By Del LessardBeacon Staff Writer Employees of the Niceville, Valparaiso, Okaloosa County Regional Sewer Board have received a 2 percent raise, with the possibility of some employees also getting merit pay increases. The 2 percent raises, effective retroactively to July 1, the start of the fiscal year for the publicly owned utility, were originally tabled by its governing board from June to August to give each member entity the county and the cities of Niceville and Valparaisotime to finalize their own budget plans for the upcoming fiscal year, including any proposed pay raises for their own employees. The Regional Sewer Board has 11 employees. The board last month approved an across-the-board 2 percent pay raise, with an additional 1 percent set aside for merit raises to be given at the discretion of sewer plant manager Rick Helms. Regional sewer plant employees got a 2 percent costof-living raise last year but no merit raises. Two years ago the board gave no raises for the first half of the year, then gave a 2 percent raise for the last six By Mike GriffithBeacon Correspondent People who need to seek public shelter during a hurricane or other disaster in Okaloosa County, and who plan to take their pets with them when evacuating their homes, should be aware of some facts about the new pet-friendly shelter at Northwest Florida State College, Niceville, say local officials. Pets will not be housed in the same building as human shelterees. People seeking shelter in an emergency will be housed in the sports arena in the new community center at the college, which also houses the countys Emergency Operations Center, as well as classrooms, offices and other facilities. Pets, however, will be sheltered elsewhere on campus, at Building S, a classroom facility adjoining the colleges science building. College spokeswoman Sylvia Bryan stated: The animals will be housed separately, not with people. The county and Humane Society, not the college, will make the rules and run the shelter. Pet owners cant drop off animals and leave campus to 10 years after: How 9/11 changed usBy Del LessardBeacon Staff Writer Ten years ago this coming Sunday, the unthinkable happened. Terrorists under the leadership of Osama bin Laden hijacked four airliners filled with passengers, and crashed two into the World Trade Center towers in New York, and another into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. The fourth airliner crashed into a field in Pennsylvania after passengers fought what was to have been another attack on Washington. Nearly 3,000 people died during the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. Thousands more died during the subsequent war on terror, and even though bin Laden has been killed and his terrorist organization decimated, hostilities continue in Americas longest wars, in far-flung Afghanistan, and also in Iraq. Nearly 1,400 Americans have died in Afghanistan since the U.S. invaded that country in October 2001 to root out the al-Qaida terror group responsible for the attacks. Approaching the 10th anniversary, the Beacon asked community members how 9/11 has changed us. Their answers follow. It made Americans more patriotic, in general, politics aside, and brought us a little bit closer together, said Brian Haugen, a local businessman who deployed to Afghanistan as an Army Special Forces reservist in the immediate aftermath of 9/11. We lost our innocence and the sense of security we had for over 200 years, said David Goetsch, vice president of Northwest Florida State College. While Pearl Harbor might have caused such a loss, it wasnt an attack on the continental United States, he said. Before 9/11, he said, We all presumed that the Atlantic and Pacific would protect us. Goetsch, an ex-Marine, went on to say that the Saturday, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Bayou Book Company will hold a book signing with Auburn Research Associate Mark Hainds. Hainds will discuss his new book, Year of the Pig, which chronicles his study of wild pigs. Info: 678-1593 or bayoubookcompany.com. Saturday, 7 p.m. The We Are the Beggars tour will come to Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church, 1200 Valparaiso Blvd., in the Parish Life Center. Performing will be the Ike Ndolo Band, Audrey Assad and Ennie Hickman. Tickets are $10 or $15. Call 678-7813 to purchase tickets. Sunday, 2 p.m. The Magnolia Grill, Fort Walton Beach, will host a wine and cheese fundraiser to benefit the Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida. Enjoy wine and food, live entertainment, and a silent auction. Tickets are $25; $20 for museum members; and $10 for police, firefighters and paramedics. To purchase tickets call 678-2615.Calendar, B-3. Beacon photo by Sarah Clauson Military members and first responders were honored Friday in pregame ceremonies at Niceville High Schools Eagle Stadium in remembrance of the impending 10th anniversary of 9/11. More events are scheduled in the area; story, Page A-3. T T h h e eB B a a y y B B e e a a c c o o n n Wednesday, September 7, 2011 info@baybeacon.com The voice of Niceville, Bluewater Bay and Valparaiso since 19925014 Pages, 2 Sections, 3 Inserts COMINGUPPay boosted for sewage workers Please see 9/11, page A-3 Please see PETS, page A-4 Please see PAY, page A-5 WashoutAlthough Tropical Storm Lee made landfall 300 miles west of Niceville, rain bands from the slow-moving storm drenched Northwest Florida over the Labor Day weekend, washing out holiday activities and prompting warnings for possible tornadoes, severe thunderstorms and flash flooding. The storm toppled trees and caused minor flooding and temporary power outages in the local area. Rainfall measured at the regional sewer plant in Niceville totaled 6.3 inches. Above, workers at the Bluewater Bay Marina dumped water from small boats on the beach Sunday. Beacon photo by Mike Griffith Pets such as this dachshund now may shelter in Niceville, provided an owner comes along.Shelter from the storm for pets, ownersSeparate accommodations offered at college if a hurricane looms Brian Haugen David Goetsch The voice of Niceville, Bluewater Bay and Valparaiso since 19929/11 and aftermath, A-2; local memorials, A-3. We lost our innocence

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8 Pages, 1 Section Saturday, October 20, 2001 Vol. 19, No. 42 50B e a c o n T h e B a y baybeacon@aol.com The hometown newspaper for Niceville, Valparaiso and Bluewater Bay (850) 678-1080 Police Blotter A-2 Inquiring Photographer A-6 Sports A-7 Classifieds A-8INSIDE days and one 24-hour day per week. The decision to move the ambulance indoors was made in part for security reasons, said North Bay Fire Chief Thomas Santner. Fire and emergency departments nationwide remain on heightened alert after an FBI warning of a possible planned terrorist hijacking of fire department or emergency medical vehicles that would be used as Trojan horses to bomb military bases. Because the EMS ambulance now based at the firehouse is only used during peak times, it could have been hours before EMS personnel discovered it was missing at the old location, Santner said. North Bay firefighters cleaned the carpet, painted theCounty ambulance now stationed at N. Bay firehouseBy Teresa Arlund Beacon Staff WriterAn Okaloosa County Emergency Medical Services ambulance and crew are now based at the North Bay fire station full-time. North Bay firefighters renovated the gymnasium on the north side of the truck bay to accommodate the personnel inside the firehouse on White Point Road. The ambulance is housed in the truck bay. The ambulance was previously kept outside of the EMS station on Bullock Av enue, and was only used during the peak times of the day, said EMS Director Al Herndon. Two alternating crews of two emergency personnel man the ambulance six days a week. Each crew will work two 16-hour Thursday for five days due to an anthrax scare. Miller succeeds Republican Joe Scarborough, who resigned Sept. 6, less than halfway through his fourth term. Floridas Congressional District 1 includes all or parts of Bay, Escambia, Holmes, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton counties. County and municipal officials had hoped the proposed four-year, one-percent sales tax would pay for a slew of publicBy Del Lessard Beacon Staff WriterWinning 66 percent of the vote, former State Rep. Jeff Miller, of Chumuckla won the District 1 U.S. House seat at stake in the special election, defeating Steve Briese of Gulf Breeze (28 percent) and indepe ndent John G. Ralls Jr. of Pensacola (6 percent). In Okaloosa County, voters soundly defeated a proposed onepercent sales tax, 16,282 to 11,548or 59 percent to 41 percent. A top Niceville official said the defeat may prompt the city council to raise municipal taxes. Millers scheduled swearingin was postponed until next week after the House of Representatives closed on The Little River Band will headline Sundays entert ainment at the Mullet Festival.Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award for Best Doo-Wop Song with Tears on My Pillow. The Alley Cats will perform again on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Trick Pony will appear on stage tonight at 7 p.m. The trio recently celebrated the release of their self-titled debut CD, powered by the rowdy Top 20 single Pour Me. Trick Ponys single, On a Night Like This, was high on the country singles chart this week. George Skipper takes the stage at 8:45 p.m. with Boggy, a country tune about growing up in Niceville. Crowning tonights musical menu is six-time Voca l Group of the Year Diamond Beacon Staff WriterThe musical and culinary fare of Nicevilles ever-popular Boggy Bayou Mullet Festival continues through Sunday evening at the festival site at College Boulevard and Highway 85 North. The three-day festival, which began Friday, marks its 25th year in 2001. Admission is $3. Children under 12 may enter free. The annual event attracts tens of thousands of people to the area. The Alley Cats take the stage at 3 p.m. today, and wil l woo audiences with their rich doo-wop harmonies and humorous, energetic performance. Their release, Cruisin, won aBy Teresa Arlund Beacon Staff WriterRather than miss their flights, air travelers are giving up their penknives, nail clippers, scissors and corkscrews. Security personnel at Okaloosa Regional Airport have collected a file drawer full of sharp objects from boarding passengers since the Sept. 11 attack on the U.S. Among the items in the airports growing collection are large and small pocket knives, nail clippers, corkscrews, bottle openers, silverware, screwdrivers, drill bits and straigh t razors. Even a few darts have landed in the pile of contraband. One passenger was forced to give up his money clip because it contained a tiny knif e, said Airport Director Jerry Sealy. A nother abandoned her tiny sewing kit. No passenger at the Okaloosa airp ort was suspected of trying to smuggle a weapon aboard a plane, authorities said. So the items were simply confiscated and the travelers who had them were allowed to b oard. But in the new climate of heightened security that has followed President Bushs declaration of a war on terrorism, sharp objects that would have been permitted on a plane before Sept. 11 are now prohibited. Most passengers part willingly with their items, Sealy said. Some have asked that the airlines place the items in their checked baggage instead. Theoretically, it may be possible to have the items placed in checked baggage, but practic ally speaking its not likely, said Airport Administrator John Morris. A passengers checked baggage is often already loaded by the time he goes throu gh security, Morris said. Travelers are welcome to claim confiscated items after they return to the area, Morris said. In fact, several of the items in the airport collection had phone numbers taped to them, with a note that said will be back. Beacon photo by T eresa Ar lund Okaloosa Regiona l Airport Director Jerry Sealy sorts through a collection of sharp objects collected by security personnel since the Sept. 11 terror attacks. Security at the airport remains tight. Representatives of both Niceville and the Okaloosa County School District have lobbied for the overpass since 1993, when a student from Ruckel Middle School was struck and killed by a car near the intersection of John Sims Parkway an d Palm Boulevard. The overwalk would provide safer passage over Nicevilles busiest street for students from NHS and Ruckel Middle School, officials contend. Construction costs are estimated at $1.3 million. The project was postponed in order to accelerate other lo ngterm transportation projects, originally slated for state funding three or four years from now. The accelerated projects are part of an economic stimulusNHS overpass is delayed until 04By Shara Cole Beacon CorrespondentConstruction of a long-sought pedestrian overpass near Niceville High School has been delayed by about six months due to a statewide economic slowdown. Members of the Fort Walton Beach Metropolitan Planning Organization met in Niceville Thursday to discuss the issue. The overpass is now expected to be built in 2004, rather than 2003 as previously planned. Reasons for the delay included lower-than-expected state revenues for MPO projects, officials said. MPO staff coordinator Nick Nickoloff said Friday that the project will probably be delayed only about six months. package unveiled this week by Gov. Jeb Bush designed to strengthen confidence and accelerate Floridas economic recovery.. Five of the accelerated projects are in Okaloosa County, including a countywide update of the traffic signal system. Florida Department of Transportation spokesman Tommy Barfield said that because of budget shortfalls, the MPO districts revenue share was reduced, resulting in less money for MPO projects like the NHS overwalk. Although Okaloosa County grew at a rate of 8.4 percent, it has not grown as fast as other counties, according to the 2000 Census, Barfield said. A traffic signal and crossw alk was installed at the intersection of John Sims Parkway and Cedar Avenue in early 1998 as an interim safeguard for students. MPO transportation director Mike Zeigler said the delay will allow time to educate the com munity on the best possible use of the overpass. In comments on his proposed stimulus package, Bush said, As a result of the terro rist attacks on our country on September 11, Florida has seen an economic slowdown in industries vital to our state. Florid a is faced with very tough times. We are in wartime conditions for the first time since the early 1990s. We could not have anticipated this situation, but we must address this dramatic economic downturn now, Bush said. Wylands Whaling WallThousands turned out a t the Mid-Bay Marina Wednesday to see the dedication of Whalin g Wall #88, a giant mural p ainted in nine days on the outside walls of the marin a boathouse by Wyland, an artist who specializes in depictions of undersea life. The marina, with its new mural, is at the south end of the Mid-Bay Bridge. Wyland, who was born Robert Wyland but dropped his first name to become simply Wyland, said that this latest mural, 88th in a series he has painted in cities around the world, is my best ever. Story, A-2. B ea co n photo by M i k e G ri ff i th Please see M ILLER, page A-6 Please see MULLET, page A-4 Please see COUNTY page A-6 Please see AIRPORT, page A-4Airport guards seize more sharp objectsP a ss en g er s subj e ct to t i ght er sc r ut in yMiller wins Congress seat; sales tax loses Jeff MillerBoggys Mullet Festival continues this weekend Anthrax powder in BWB turns out to be beach sand, A-3. Holiday meal for families of deployedBy Mike Griffith Beacon Corre spon dentFamily members of the Air Force 823rd Red Horse squadron got together at Hurlburt Field Friday afternoon, for a traditional Thanksgiving style luncheon. The meal, which also included games and other activities, was intended to show the squadrons support and appreciation for the families of the units 400-plus airmen, most of whom have been deployed overseas in support of the war on terrorism. Capt. Erin Lawrence, commander of those elements of the squadron remaining at B e a c o n E X P R E S S INSIDE 28 Pages, 1 Section, 3 inserts Wednesday, November 21, 200150 + T T h h e e B B e e a a c c o o n n s s H H O O M M E E T T O O W W N N C C H H R R I I S S T T M M A A S S A guide to holiday ideas, activities, and ev ents.Supplement to the Beacon Wednesday Nov. 21, 2001 baybeacon@aol.com Hometown news for Niceville, Valparaiso and Bluewater Bay. (850) 678-1080 Please see COMPLAINT, page A-4 Please see HOLIDAY, page A-4 Please see SEE KS, page A-4 Please see HIKES, page A-2Fire panel reviews complaint policiesBy Teresa Arlund Beacon Staff W riterThe North Bay Fire Commission reviewed draft changes to the fire departments personnel policies and procedures pertaining to promotion and hiring, equal opportunity, and accounting procedures. Meeting Nov. 13 in Bluewater Bay, the commission visited the policies after the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) dismissed a discrimination complaint by firefighter Marquis Johnson. In the complaint, filed last February, Marquis, who is black, alleged that Fire Chief Thomas Santner, who is white, made offensive racial comments about him and his race. Johnson also charged that he was denied promotion to the rank of captain, although he was transportation needs. The resolution asks the Fort Walton Beach Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) to rank the project as No. 1 on the needs list, and urges the State of Florida and Federal Highway Administration to fund construction of the I-10 to I-65 connector to the Alabama state line. The resolution also provides for copies to be sent to theNiceville council seeks I-65 connectorBy David Serbe Beacon Corre spon dentThe Niceville City Council is seeking speedy construction of a interstate highway connector between I-10 and I-65. The council Nov. 13 passed a resolution supporting such a connection for the emergency evacuation of defense and nondefense motorized traffic during times of emergency or normal Florida Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration, the MPO, the U.S. Congressional delegation from Florida, the governor, the state legislative delegation, and the Okaloosa County League of Cities membership. In other business Nov. 13, the council approved the second readings of four ordinances annexing Ruckel Property Cemetery; and Swift Creek Phase 4, containing 3.961 acres. Parcels 1 and 3 are scheduled to be zoned C-2 which allows medium commercialization, Parcel 2 will be C-1 allowing light, more-restricted commercial enterprises, and Phase 4 is zoned R-1 (residential). City council members also approved the second readings of four corresponding ordinances that amend Nicevilles Comprehensive Plan and update the provisions of the future land use map to include the four Swift Creek parcels. All eight ordinances passed unanimously, with no discussion by the council or any members of the public. It takes three readings for the Niceville City Council to pass an ordinance. Other items on the agenda included: the second reading of parcels in Swift Creek. The parcels are: Swift Creek Parcel 1 containing 8.941 acres and located at the corner of N. Partin Drive and College Boulevard; Swift Creek Parcel 2 containing 2.688 acres and located between the Rocky Bayou Baptist Church and Winding Waters Way; Swift Creek Parcel 3 of 8.241 acres, located between Rocky Bayou Christian School and Heritage Gardens missioners decided to survey customers for suggestions on the action to be taken. The commissioners also discussed projected state revenue decreases as they will affect the city budget. It is anticipated that sales tax revenue will decrease 5.23 percent and municipal revenue sharing will decrease about 3.95 percent, city officials said. This will represent a total revenue loss to the city of $31,777. The commissioners decided to hold a workshop at a later date to address this issue as well as the status of the capital improvements projects. The capital improvements projects were those projects that the city had hoped to fund through a one-percentage-point countywide sales tax increase. However, the measure was defeated at the polls last month. A joint workshop to discuss aGulf Power hikes pole feesBy George Larson Beacon Corre spon dentValparaiso City Commissioner T.G. Miller said that Gulf Power has again increased its pole attachment fees. This is the fee that the city must pay Gulf Power for attaching utilities, such as the city cable TV service lines, to Gulf Power utility poles. Miller informed his fellow commissioners of the fee increase during a city commssion meeting Nov. 12. Approximately 10 months ago, the city was informed that the previous rate of $6.60 per pole would be increased to $36.06. It is again being increased from $36.06 per pole per year to $40.60, Miller said last week. Miller suggested that the city should consider either installing its own poles or burying the TV cables underground. The comBeacon photo by Mike Griffith Family members of the 8 23rd Red Hors e civil engin eering squa dron, many of whose members are deployed in the war on terrorism held a T hanksgiving luncheon last w eek at Hurlburt Field Beacon photo by Del LessardGiving thanksDressed as traditional Ind ians and Pilgrim s, Agap Christian Academy students participated in a p re-Thank sgiving celebratio n and dinner Saturday in Niceville. From left: A gape K -4 students Lind sey Hicks, Leah Lu nderman, Joseph Carr, E mily Nguyen, Au stin Fru nk, Shannon Rodgers, Garrett Loftis, J anet Sanders, and Amber Fling. The Legislature is grappling with the size of budget cutbacks now that state revenue projections have fallen drastically in the face of a slumping economy made worse by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Lulue said the two sides will look at the pay issue after the county learns the impact of expected state budget cutback. A proposal considered by the Legislature to give the Okaloosa school district flexibility to use up to $3.9 million in capital funds this year instead for operational expenses was defeated Thursday by the full Senate, Gaetz said. With the House in recess until Tuesday, Gaetz said, the school district will be lobbying local state senators hard over the weekend to get some leeway on spending. Gaetz had been hopeful theBudget turmoil leaves added raises in doubtBy Del Lessard Beacon Staff WriterOkaloosa County teachers are not likely to see any further pay increases this year, according to Schools Superintendent Don Gaetz, as the school district waits to learn how much money the Legislature will cut from its budget. After the Okaloosa School Board last August approved a combination of teachers pay increases (including bonuses granted by the Legislature) that total about 5 percent, the teachers union had asked for an additional 2.29 percent acrossthe-board pay hike. Carolyn Lulue, the chief negotiator for the Okaloosa County Education Association, said that the teachers union and the district suspended negotiations over salary issues last month pending a decision from the Legislature on budget cuts. Attorney Rick Scherling, the decision to try Minster as an adult rather than a juvenile on two counts of vehicular homicides means he could face up to 15 years in prison on each charge. Minster faces a Dec. 7 court appearance at which a plea will be entered, according to Scherling. Killed in the May 18 crash were a passenger in Minsters car, Christopher William Bebow, 17, of Bluewater Bay, a senior at Niceville High School, and a driver of another car, Douglas Leon Welch, 58, of Brewton Ala. 8 Pages, 1 Section Saturday, October 27, 2001 Vol. 19, No. 43 50B e a c o n T h e B a y baybeacon@aol.com The hometown newspaper for Niceville, Valparaiso and Bluewater Bay (850) 678-1080 Police Blotter A-2 Inquiring Photographer A-6 Sports A-7 Classifieds A-7 Ranger Training A-8INSIDE ODell, others seek postBy Del Lessard Beacon Staff WriterAt least a dozen peopleincluding a former county commissioner defeated in last years election have applied to Gov. Jeb Bush for appointment to the vacant District 3 Okaloosa County Commission seat. As of yesterday morning, according to the governors office, the following applicants were under consideration: Kathy ODell, Allan Stearns, Karen Baker, Bill Roberts, James Jenkins, Gaylan King, Wayne Simpson, Robert Williamson, Delmar Dunn, Earl Thompson, Samuel Cunningham, Earl Thompson, Samuel Cunningham, and Elaine Tucker. Gov. Bush suspended District 3 Okaloosa County Commissioner Douglas A. Hutcheson from his elected position on the five-member county commission on Oct. 15. Hutcheson was arrested Sept. 28 on a charge of filing a false voter registration form, a felony. The governors office said earlier that as a matter of policy Bush suspends elected county officials facing felony charges pending trial. The governors office told the Beacon that yesterday was the dead line for applicants seeking the vacan t post. Bush is expected to make the appointment within the next two weeks. The appointment would be temporary, and Hutcheson could resume his elected position if acquitted of the charge, of which he maintains his innocence. Please see BUDGET, page A-3 Please see BOY, page A-2Boy charged as adult in 2 deathsBy Del Lessard Beacon Staff WriterA 17-year-old Bluewater Bay boy has been charged as an adult in the traffic deaths of two people May 18, according to the State Attorneys office in Milton. The arrest Thursday of Ryan Minster, 1277 Whitewood Way, by Santa Rosa County Sheriffs deputies supersedes his earlier arrest on similar charges as a juvenile. Minster had been arrested by the Florida Highway Patrol as a juvenile Oct. 3 on two counts of vehicular homicide and one count of underage possession of alcoholic beverage in connection with a May 18 crash on Highway 4 near Munson that killed two people, seriously injured four, and scattered 22 cans of beer from Minsters car over the highway. According to Assistant State Beacon photo by T eresa ArlundEast meets WestA Tibetan monk from the Buddhist Drepung Loseling Monastery in India blesses grains of colored sand used in the construction of a geometric mandala at the Arts Center Galleries at Okaloosa-Walton Community College Wednesday. Story, A-3. Beacon photos by T eresa Arlund Above, students at the Florida Ranger Camp take up positions after a river crossing Thursday. The 6th Ranger Training Battalion, located deep in the woods on Eglin Air Force Base, has been training Rangers for 50 years. Right, a Ranger student makes his way carefully through 400 meters of chilly swamp. Students will repeat the ordeal in darkness. Wider war on terror adds urgency to Ranger trainingBy Teresa Arlund Beacon Staff WriterCheck heaters, fire chief advisesBy David Serbe Beacon CorrespondentNiceville Fire Chief Mike Wright called on citizens to prepare their home heating systems for winter. Malfunctioning heating systems are frequently blamed for fires, and are an even more frequent cause of false alarms. Speaking at a meeting of the East Niceville Fire Commission on Monday, Wright said that now is a good time for people to do operational checks on their furnacesbefore cold weather hits. Wright said that the heating systems sit idle most of the year, and many people wait until the last minute to turn on their furnaces. Running the furnaces for a short time before cold weather arrives will ensure that the coils heat up, and will get lint and dust out of the systems. The chief advised commissioners that the fire department annually gets a rush of calls when cold weather descends on the Niceville area. He said some people operating their furnaces after long periods of inactivity might smell gas and panic. Please see HEATERS, page A-2 Continued on page A-8 Ryan Minsterswamp, watching for water moccasins, wary of deepwater holes. Such feats are difficult enough in broad daylight. But these daytime drills by soldiers from throughout the U.S., conducted by the Armys 6th Ranger Training Camp at Camp Rudder, in the backwoods of Eglin Air Force Base, are just a precursor to the real challengeaccomplishing the same in the black of night. They wade the neck-deep river, guided by a rope secured to a cypress on the far shore. They clamber up the slick riverbank and silently take up positions, guns ready. Meantime another squad lands a raft farther upstream. One by one, encumbered by 70pound backpacks, they slog through the treacherous Today Ranger parachutists were scheduled to conduct a mock airborne assault at Camp Rudder at nightfall. Adding new urgency to the work at the 50-year-old Ranger training camp here was news this week that Army Rangers have become Americas frontline ground troops in the war on terrorism. And two Rangers were the first U.S. servicemen to die in what President Bush has declared as a war on internacombat under the toughest conditions, said Capt. James Tolbert, a combat veteran and former Ranger instructor who conducted a Beacon reporter on a visit to one of the units training sites Thursday. The 190-member training battalion, located deep in the woods of the Eglin Air Force Base Reservation, is dedicated to developing the students ability to lead small groups into tional terrorism. Even before the Sept. 11 attacks on America, the mental and physical stresses endured by the students of the 6th Ranger Training Battalion were real enough. The stress is designed to prepare soldiers for Kathie ODell Gaylan KingPlease see ODELL page A-3 War on terrorFirst of a series profiling the roles of locally based military units in Americas new conflict. B e a c o n baybeacon@aol.com Hometown news for Niceville, Valparaiso and Bluewater Bay. (850) 678-1080 INSIDE Palm Plaza A-8 Christmas in Bluewater Ba y A-9 Calendar A-10 All Around T he Town A-10 Classifieds A-13 to A-16 E X P R E S S 16 Pages, 1 S ection, 4 inserts Wednesday November 28, 200150 Organizations (MPO) Bicycle/Pedestrian advisory committee has given its final draft plan recommendation for MPO and other advisory committee review. School-age children account for 50 percent of bicycle crashes and 30 percent of pedestrianAgency aims to boost safety for cyclists, walkersBy Shara Cole Beacon CorrespondentA regional transportation agency is working to make the streets safer for bicyclists and pedestrians. The Fort Walton Beach Metropolitan Planning crashes, according to the MPO. Two of the top 12 projects recommended for approval by the MPO include improving pedestrian crossings on State Road 285 for Ruckel Middle School and paving for bike lanes and sidewalks along John Sims Parkway from Palm Boulevard have been fully funded within the MPOs Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and are currently programmed for construction for fiscal years 2001-02 through 2005-06, as are bike lanes along State Road 285 from State Road 20 to College Boulevard, and State Road 293 from Olde Post Road to the Mid-Bay Bridge toll plaza. The state also plans to build a pedestrian overpass over John Sims Parkway in front of Niceville High School. The MPOs long-range plan to the Rocky Bayou bridge. The latter is a project that has been on the books since 1991, and is still only partially funded, according to Nancy Model of the West Florida Regional Planning Council, Pensacola. Improved mid-block pedestrian crossings at Ruckel Middle of her sons death, according to Kathy Wilson, Elis grandmother and Katies mother. Eli, who would have had hisBy Del Lessard Beacon Staff W riterEli Allen Wilson, 6, of Niceville, was laid to rest in a Freeport cemetery Monday, the victim of a traffic crash near Orlando last week that left his mother with a broken neck and back. Two other members of the family escaped unhurt. The 6-year-old boy died in an Orlando hospital on Thanksgiving Day from injuries received when the family pickup truck overturned Nov. 18 on the Florida Turnpike, according to relatives. Elis mother, Katie Wilson, of Als Drive, Niceville, remained in serious but stable condition in Orlando Regional Hospital yesterday. She has not yet been told Before 1999, the parade route was often a four-mile march, from Palm Plaza to the middle of downtown Valparaiso. Theme for this years parade is Service above Self, the Rotary motto. Noble Morton, who co-chairs the parade with fellow Rotarian Roger Faille, said this years theme seemed appropriate in part because of the type of selfless service shown by New York City firefighters and others on Sept. 11. Of course the star of the show will be Santa Claus. Look for the jolly old elf on a Niceville Fire Department fire engine near the end of the parade. Other dignitaries include Valparaiso Mayor Bruce Arnold Niceville Mayor Randall Wise, Okaloosa County Sheriff Charlie Morris, Okaloosa County Tax Collector Chris Hughes, and Col. James E. Hazuka II, commander of the 96th Communications Group at Eglin Air Force Base. State legislators Sen. Charlie Clary of Destin and Rep. JerryChristmas parade set for SaturdayRotary becomes sponsorBy Del Lessard Beacon Staff WriterSaturday morning is your opportunity to enjoy a hometown holiday traditionthe 36th Annual Community Christmas Parade. A new wrinkle this year is that the popular tradition has a new sponsor, only its second in 36 yearsthe Niceville-Valparaiso Rotary Club. Make sure too, that you know where to go to view the parade because the route has changed from last year. Saturdays parade starts at 10 a.m., at the intersection of John Sims Parkway and Bayshore Drive in Niceville. Marchers will wend their way west along John Sims Parkway and into Valparaiso, where the parade will end at Edge Avenue. Parade participants will assemble at 8:30 a.m. on John Sims Parkway near the Ruby Tuesday restaurant. This years parade route is about a mile and a half long, about the same length as the shortened parade routes of the last two years. Beacon photos by Del Lessard Above, Fort Walton Beach firefighter Chris Kempf, of the Okaloosa County Special Operations Unit, analyzes a substance during hazardous materials training earlier this month. Mark Pifer, left, an Ocean-City Wright firefighter on the team, looks on. Below, the Special Operations Unit responded to an anthrax scare at the Niceville Post Office Nov. 12 and began decontaminating two postal workers. A suspicious powder leaking from a parcel turned out to be snuff.$55,000 bill for anthrax scaresBy Del Lessard Beacon Staff W riterturned out to be nothing more hazardous than snuff. A suspicious letter from Nigeria reported Monday by a business at Palm Boulevard and John Sims Parkway in Niceville was deemed harmless after investigation. The Special Operations Unit has been more noticeable during the past two months, from their personnel encased in special protective suits and air masks to the units distinctive red vehicle painted with the motto Masters of Disaster. The unit can call upon 45 firefighters countywide, including 32 trained to deal with hazardous materials incidentswhich now unfortunately includes intentional rather than accidental materialsplus other specialized rescue situations, from confined space rescues to water rescues. Personnel are full-time firefighters who have volunteered to train and participate in the Special Operation Unit, coming from Okaloosa Island, Fort Walton Beach, Ocean City-Wright and Destin fire departments. They receive no extra specialist pay for serving on the team. Their only added compensation has been overtime paid since last A county hazardous-materials unit has run up nearly $55,000 in overtime and supplies costs responding to anthrax scares in the past six weeks, officials said this week. A number of fire departments countywide are among the agencies and local governments chipping in to pay the extra costs, said Okaloosa Public Safety Director Dino Villani. Villani told the Beacon yesterday that the county, several fire departments and the City of Destin were helping fund $54,800 in overtime and equipment costs experienced by the Special Operations Unit through the first week in November. Since anthrax became a terrorist weapon against the U.S., an elite group of Okaloosa County firefighters has dispatched scores of times to suspected contamination, according to Doug Draxler, head of the Okaloosa County Special Operations Unit. The county uses a $1 million hazardousmaterials response truck that is said to be the most sophisticated nonmilitary unit of its kind between Pensacola and Tallahassee. So far none of the scares has involved real anthrax, said Draxler, who is also the assistant fire chief of the Okaloosa Island Fire Department. A suspicious powder reported inside the Niceville Post Office Nov. 12, for example, Please see FUNERAL, page A-2 Please see PARADE, page A-2 Please see AGENCY, page A-2 Please see ANTHRAX, page A-3 Eli Wilson, right, with mother Katie Wilson and brother Dylan Preuss. Obituary, A-4.Funeral held for boy, 6, crash victimResponses to suspicious powders test hazmat unit Page A-2 Wednesday, September 7, 2011 THEBAYBEACO N Since 1992, the voice of Niceville, Bluewater Bay and Valparaiso. #1 inTRANSACTIONS& PRODUCTIONYear-to-DateKeller Williams Realty Emerald Coast is proud to announceKelly Shephard#1 in transactions & production for Niceville, year-to-date. Give her a call today at 850-543-7353 or visitwww.homesinnicevilleflorida.com Each Keller Williams Office is Independently Owned and Operated ing to arrest reports, also a m isdemeanor offense. According to police rep orts, Valparaiso police investigators interviewed several juveniles between the ages of 10 and 15 after a Valparaiso father rep orted Oct. 3, about 7:19 p.m., that his child had been play ing outside with other children and that one of the children had fired a weapon. Police made co ntact with several children in the residen tial neighborhood nea r Valparaiso Elementary School and asked them to come to the police department to provide statements on what had occurred. Contact was also made with the 14-year-old boy who allegedly went into his home and gave the investigating police 10 Pages, 1 Section Saturday, October 13, 2001 Vol. 19, No. 41 50B e a c o n T h e B a y baybeacon@aol.com The hometown newspaper for Niceville, Valparaiso and Bluewater Bay (850) 678-1080 Police Blotter A-2 Inquiring Photographer A-6 Sports A-8 Classifieds A -10INSIDE ready, said Niceville police lieutenant Jason Fulghum Annual attendance at the three-day seafood, music, artsand-crafts fun-f est has been upwards of 100,000 for the past several years. Fulghum said 19 full-time Niceville police officers plusMore security at Mullet FestNo trouble expected, police sayBy Del Lessard Beacon Staff WriterThe Niceville Police Department doubts terr orists will trouble with next weeks 25th Annual Boggy Bayou Mullet Festival but theyre stepping up security anyway. Were not expecting any trouble but we want to be ments. Top priority projects in Niceville, he said, will be st reet paving and new fire-fighting equipment. If the tax does not pass, he said, Well keep struggling, to find the money for improvements. Bruce Arnold, Mayor of Valparaiso, said his citys top priorities include a new fire truck, with the ability to pump fire-fighting foam as well as water. The city also wants to provide more office space for the police department, especially space for new computer equipment. Safety of our residents is the primary concern, said Arnold. If the sales tax fails, he said, Valparaiso m ay band with other cities to get the Florida Legislature to allow cities to enact temporary city sales taxes, like the county taxCommunity leaders speak out on proposed sales taxBy Mike Griffith Beacon CorrespondentOn Tuesday, Oct. 16, Okaloosa County voters will decide whether to pay a 1-percent county sales tax for the next four years. Wh ile some community leaders enthusiastically support the tax proposal, others are equally emphatic in opposing it. The mayors of both Niceville and Val paraiso are among supporters of the proposed tax, which they say will allow improvements to city infrastructure, and w ill be fairer than increasing property taxes. You and I dont like taxes, Niceville Mayor Randall Wise told the Beacon. But this is a good way everyone can have a part of paying for much-needed improve-3 boys arrested for playing with policemans gunsTeen charged with discharging firearm in publicBy Del Lessard Beacon Staff WriterValparaiso police arrested three boys Wednesday for possession of firearms under the age of 18. The oldest of the three, a 15-year-old N iceville boy, was also arrested on a charge of d ischarging a firearm in public. The weapo ns all belonged to a Valparaiso police officer, the father of one of the boys, according to Valparaiso police. Arrested Wednesday was a 12-year-old Niceville boy, a 14year-old V alparaiso boy and the 15-year-old Niceville boy, according to arrest reports, each charged with possession of firearms under the age of 18, a misdemeanor. The 15-year-old was also charged with discharging a firearm in public, accor dB ea co n photo b y D e l L essard Some residents at the Twin Cities Pavilion enjoyed a breath of fresh air before dinner Thursday. Today is the 20th anniversa ry of the Pavilion, a not-for-profit assisted living facility. A benefit fish fry is scheduled this afternoon at 5 p.m. to h elp raise some of the $7 0,000 needed to pay for repairs at the forme r county hospital. Pictu red from the left, Pennie He in, Cora Hendrix, Fred Rogers, Lillie Youman, Norma O wens, Shirley Denny (partially hidde n), Minnie Happy and Pauline W illiams. Bea con photo by Del Lessard Now living in Birmingham George Skipper recently wrote and recorded on CD his original tune called Boggy to help expl ain to his children what it meant to grow up in Nice ville in the 1960s and 70s. Skipper plans to have about 1 ,000 copies of the four-cut CD available at the Mullet Festival next week, where he will be on s tage Saturday.getting around, Its the best place that Ive ever seen, Growing up there was like living a dream. People moving in, its where they want to be;Songwriter immortalizes BoggyBy Del Lessard Beacon Staff WriterSon of a preacher man, George Skipper grew up in Niceville, grad uated from Niceville High School in 1979, moved away to college and worked for 20 years in Missouri. Now the 40-yearold former Eagles football receiver wants to tell people about the place where he grew up, so he recently cut a four-tune compact disc of songs he wrote and sang himself. Skipper sin gs the first verse of his copyrighted song Boggy in Southern rock/country style: Let me tell you somethin bout my home town, Used to be a secret but its They will call it Niceville, but it s Boggy to me. Skipper, son of retired Assembly of God pastor George Skipper, moved closer to home a few years ago an d now lives in Birmingham where he sells insurance. He has three childr en, Alexandria, age 8, Sawyer, 6 and Gr iffin, age 4. Besides singing in Engineers deploy to undisclosed locationBy Del Lessard Beacon Staff WriterBetween 25 and 30 military members of Eglin Air Force Bases 796th Civil Engineering Squadron deployed Wednesday to an unknown location in support of Operation Enduring Fre edom, the U.S. war on terrorism. The civil engineers, trained to build and maintain the infrastructure for air bases anywhere in the world, were dressed in desert tan camouflage as other members of the unit and family members sa w them off. Please see MORE, page A-3 Please see BOGGY, page A-3 Please see DEPL OY, page A-3 Please see B OYS, page A-2 Please see TAX, page A-6 George Skipper Bea con file photo Annual attendance at the Boggy Bayou Mullet Festival approaches 100,000. Conversion of the former county hospital into an ALF was spearheaded by the Pavilions long-time executive director Ruth Lovej oy, with the help of Nicevilles late Alma Granny Edge. The women recognized that no local facilityTwin Cities Pavilion celebrates 20 yearsBy Del Lessard Beacon Staff WriterTwenty years ago t oday the Okaloosa County Commission created Twin Cities Pavilion. Established in 1981 as an adult congregate living facility, the Pavilion, at 1053 John Sims Parkway, Niceville, began life as a county hospital. It was built in 1963. Today, T win Cities Pavilion is a 43-bed, not-for-profit, Assisted Living Fac ility (ALF) with Extended Congregate Care (ECC), according to Fran Catlett, house supervisor. In addition to celebrating their 20th anniversary this month, the Pavilion is in the midst of a fund-raiser to raise about $70,000 for much-needed major repair a nd replacement projects in a building that is approaching 40 ye ars of age, Catlett said. To help raise the fun ds, a benefit fish fry will be held this afternoon, beginning at 5 p.m. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend. Dinner includes mullet or catfish, hush puppies, baked beans, cole slaw, ice cream and drinks. existed for senior citizens n o longer able or desiring to live in their own homes. They further recognized that many seniors were capabl ewith a little assistanceof staying out of traditional nursing homes, a more expensive option. The county prov ides no fund ing for the Pavilio n but does lease the bu ilding to the not-for-profit ALF for $1 a year, according to Kim Wesley, an executive assistant at Elder Please see TWIN, page A-7U ni t p r o mises to s uppo r t f ami l ies a t ho meFriends, family, co-workers and Eglin Air Force Base offici als were on hand to bid farewell to up to 30 members of the 796th Civil Engineering Squadron who deployed Wednesday to an unspecified location in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S. war on terrorism. B ea co n photo b y D e l L essard Randall Wise Bruce Arnold 10 Pages, 1 Section Saturday, September 29, 2001 Vol. 19, No. 3 9 50B e a c o n T h e B a y baybeacon@aol.com The hometown newspaper for Niceville, Valparaiso and Bluewater Bay (850) 678-1080 Police Blotter A-2 Sports A-8 Classifieds A-9INSIDE Beacon photo by Teresa Arlu nd Agriculture pilot Odom is back in the air after cropdusters nationwide were grounded in the wake of terrorist attacks. Odom re gularly uses his one-seater, a 1983 A T Air Tractor, to spray farms in Okaloosa and Santa Rosa counties.Tuesday, after the FBI said it had evidence that a hijacking suspect had inquired about aerial spraying in South Florida. It was the third time his particular kind of aircraft had been grounded since the terrorist attacks Sept. 11 caused the deaths of thousands and grounded planes nationwide. Odom regularly flies hisCropduster returns to Okaloosa skiesBy Teresa Arlund Beacon Staff WriterDoug Odom was back in the air over Okaloosa Countys cotton fields Thursday. The cropdusting pilot would have been there sooner but it was wind, rather than the nations fear of terrorism that kept him out of the sky the previous day. Odom, and over 5,000 agricultural pilots like himself nationwide, were grounded by federal order Monday and tion and zoning requests at their next regular meeting Oct. 1. The first parcel is an 8.941 acre lot located on the southeast corner of College Boulevard and Partin Drive. That property extends about 488 feet to the east along College Boulevard and southward about 610 feet to the edge of Winding Waters Way, the existing entryway to Swift Creek, an upscale residential community being developed by Ruckel Properties. The second parcel includes about 2.66 acres of undeveloped land, and extends approximatelyBusiness sites proposedBy Del Lessard Beaco n Staff WriterCommercial development activity in Niceville may be expanding to the north. Ruckel Properties is requesting that nearly 20 acres of undeveloped land, in three separate parcels south of College Boulevard and along Partin Drive, be annexed into the city of Niceville, and zoned C-2, as a general commercial district. The Niceville Planning Commission will consider Ruckel Properties four annexa291 feet along N. Partin Drive between Winding Waters Way and the Rocky Bayou Baptist Church. That parcel is about 597 feet deep. The third parcel that Ruckel Properties is seeking to have annexed and zoned C-2 is an 8.241 acre property located along N. Partin Drive, located between the southern border of the Heritage Gardens Cemetery and the Rocky Bayou Christian School. Among the permitted uses in Beacon photo by Teresa ArlundRandom acts of kindnessAbout 60 volunteers donated their time at the Twin Cities Pavilion in celebration of United Way of Okaloosa and Walton County s Day of Caring 2001 on Sept. 19. Volunteers spruced up the senior centers gardens, painted fence rails, furniture and lobby.Air Force needs them. The order, which affects all branches of the U.S. military, was issued this week to support the military buildup following the Sept. 11 terror attacks on the U.S. Some service members affected by the order, however, may not have to stay in the military for long. Waivers are being processed for hardship cases, such as people who planned to leave the service to care for sick family members, said Lt. Col. Marilyn Howe, commander of the 96th Mission Support Squadron at Eglin AirAfter attacks, U.S. acts to retain service membersStop lo ss o rder cu rbs se p ara tio nsBy Mike Griffith Bea con CorrespondentThe recent announcement of a stop-loss policy will prevent many local Air Force members from retiring or being discharged from military service when they expected. At a press conference Wednesday afternoon, some of those involved said the policy will complicate their lives, but that they are willing to stay in the Air Force as long as necessary. The stop-loss policy requires airmen with separation dates scheduled after Oct. 2 to remain on active duty for as long as theDoctors advised to watch for signs of germ warfareBy Del Lessard Beacon Staff WriterLike their counterparts nationwide, Okaloosa County health professionals have been told to watch for outbreaks of any unusual diseases following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the U.S. At the same time, state officials have asked facility managers to keep an eye on chemicals used in agriculture, pest control and health protection that have the potential to be used as weapons or agents to attack people or places. Dr. Karen Chapman, director of the Okaloosa County Health Department, said the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) e-mailed her a health alert on the day of the terrorist attacks. The Sept. 11 CDC warning advised health officials to have a heightened Please see U.S., page A-7 Please see DOCTORS, page A-6 Please see SKIES, page A-7 Please see BUSINESS, page A-2bright yellow one-seater, a 1983 AT Air Tractor, over the more than 50,000 acres of cotton and peanut fields that form the backbone of Okaloosa and Santa Rosa Countys agricultural complex. A pilot and farmer, based in the northern Santa Rosa County community of Jay, Odom is the only aerial applicator, as cropdusters prefer to be called, operating in Okaloosa County. This is his Beacon photos by S tephen Kent Ground crews with Eglin Air Force Bases 33rd Fighter Wing, right, watch F-15C Eagles taxi for take-off during a training mission Thursday. Below, earlier the same day, maintenance personnel with the 33rds 728th Air Control Squadron prepa re a mobile radar antenna in the shadow of th e units tower-mounted permanent radar. The squadrons radars, radios and and 380 airmen can be deployed world wide to provide sur veillance, identification, weapons control, and battle mana gement for the wings 54 air-superiority fighters. awareness of disease patterns, especially in light of possible biological or chemical terrorism. The warning was passed on to hospital emergency rooms in the county, physicians, EMS and other health care professionals, as well as 911 operators, according to Chapman. What medical workers have been asked to look for is increases in unusual diseases, or clustering of infectious diseases, Chapman said. In other words, medical workers should be alert to a number of patients coming in with similar symptoms, such as complaints that they are having problems breathing very well, or perhaps several people from one area complaining of nausea and vomiting. Although there are no specific terrorist threats, medical personnel need to consider potential Please see EGLIN, page A-6Eglin wing gets antiterror missionHom e l and de f ense a p r io r ityEglins 33rd Fighter Wing has been given an added missionto defend the nations skies against terrorists, the Air Force said this week. Some of the units aircraft and pilots are now chopped, or reassigned, at least temporarily, to provide homeland defense under the 1st Air Force commander in Panama City. On Friday Capt. David Simons, public affairs officer at the 1st Air Force, headquartered at Tyndall Air Force Base, confirmed that the units commander, Maj. Gen. Larry Arnold, is one of three military officers now given the authority to order the shooting down of any civilian airliner posing a Sixty-six Air Force security police reservists from the 919th Special Operations Wing at Duke Field have been called up to active duty, the Pentagon said Thursday. As of Thursday, the Pentagon said it had mobilized 16,200 of the 50,000 reservists whose call-up was authorised by President Bush Please see LOCAL, page A-6Reservists mobilizedBy Del Lessard Beacon Staff WriterBy Del Lessard Beaco n Staff W riter Likelihood of attack is discounted, A-7. Report: Driver blamed in fatal crash was trying to catch upBy Del Lessard Beacon Staff WriterAccording to a Florida Highway Patrol traffic homicide report, a Niceville boy who was driving one of two cars involved fatal crash May 18, said he was trying to catch up with fellow students when he passed another vehicle at high speed, allegedly causing the crash that killed two people and injured three others. Four days after a May 18, two-car crash that killed two people on Highway 4 in Munson, the driver of one of those cars, 17-year-old Ryan Minster, told someone questioned by the FHP that he was sorry for what had happened, according to the highway patrol report, which was released this week. Minster is awaiting trial as an adult on two charges of vehicular homicide. He is scheduled to enter a plea in a Santa Rosa County court Dec. 7. The FHP report goes on to say that Minster explained to the same unidentified person that he had been trying to catch up to the rest of a group of friends. or after Christmas, as well as other holiday and teacher workday issues. Whether the first semester ends before Christmas or in mid-January as it did under the traditional calendar, has largely driven how early schools opens their doors to students in August. Never before, however, has the school district issued a broad-based printed survey to see what parents think on theDistrict will survey parents on calendar after allBy Del Lessard Beacon Staff WriterFor the first time, Okaloosa County School District officials say will survey parents before recommending a school calendar for the next school year. This year, as in previous years, the teachers union will survey the districts 1,800 teachers about their preferences for ending the first semester before matter. The parent survey plans were disclosed this week after the Beacon reported Nov. 24 that no such parental survey had been announced in conjunction with recently discussed plans to survey teachers. School district calendar committee facilitator J.C. Connor said this week that the school district plans to produce a send-home questionnaire to opinions will be solicited. For the past two school years, a majority of teachers voted in favor of ending the first semester in December, resulting in the school boards adoption of earlier and earlier school-opening dates. Okaloosa schools opened their doors to students Aug. 9 this year, more than a week earlier than under a more traditional school calendar. Earlier school starts the past two years resulted in many parents complaining about the impact on summer vacation plans. Some voiced suspicions that the earlier opening dates foreshadowed year-round school Superintendent of Schools Don Gaetz said yesterday that the send home survey will be sent home with students next week. He said his goal is for every parent with a child in the parents this year asking their preferences on the upcoming school calendar. The key question will center on whether of not the first semester should end before or after Christmas holidays, he said. The Okaloosa County School Board has the final say in the matter. The school district will also hold two two public meetings next week at which parental Day for a homeland defense mission that was shrouded in secrecy at the time. At that time, the 33rd Fighter Wing said it wouldnt disclose the units destination to protect the mission and the lives of the airmen involved. The unit released details this week, however, saying the squadron had been sent to provide air support forEglin radar unit protects space shuttleBy Del Lessard Beacon Staff WriterAbout 100 members of the 728th Tactical Control Squadron, part of Eglins 33rd Fighter Wing, were at Cape Canaveral this week to help provide security for the space shuttle Endeavour. The unit was deployed shortly after Thanksgiving NASAs planned launch of the Endeavour. Officials stepped up security for the space shuttle launch, the first since terrorists attacked New York and Washington, D.C., with hijacked airliners on Sept. 11. Capt. Jason Medina, public affairs officer for the 33rd Fighter Wing, said that elements of the 728th Tactical Control Squadron drove in a Medina said the unit is providing the air surveillance information to decisionmakers at the 1st Air Force, a NORAD air defense headquarters stationed at Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City. The 1st Air Force controls military air defense aircraft that can be ordered to shoot down suspected terrorist aircraft threatening the U.S. A scheduled shuttle launch Thursday was postponed indefinitely due to possible docking problems involving a Soviet spacecraft at the international space station in orbit. Medina said the Eglin unit will be stationed at Patrick Air Force Base, not far from Cape Canaveral, until further notice. truck convoy with equipment and about a third of its personnel to Cape Canaveral in support of Operation Noble Eagle, a homeland defense mission. The Eglin Air Force Base unit is using its radars to track and identify aircraft flying within a 200-plus mile radius of the shuttles launch pad, according to Medina. 8 Pages, 1 Section Saturday, December 1, 2001 Vol. 19, No. 48 50baybeacon@aol.com The hometown newspaper for Niceville, Valparaiso and Bluewater Bay (850) 678-1080 Police Blotter A-2 Inquiring Photographer A-6 PAL Soccer winners A-8INSIDE B e a c o n Please see PA RENTS, page A Please see DEPUTY page A-6 Please see DRIVER page A-6 states 67 school districts including Okaloosawere studied to determine how school boards spent categorical funds earmarked by the Legislature for textbooks and other instructional materials. Florida has a formal statewide system of textbook adoption from which school districts are general-1 in 4 Okaloosa schoolbooks is older than 8 yearsBy Del Lessard Beacon Staff WriterA report by the Florida Auditor General said that more than one in four school books in Okaloosa County is at least 8 years old. That makes them older, on average, than a number of other school districts in the state. In a November report issued by the Auditor General, 15 of theDeputy shoots a dog that menaced himBy Del Lessard Beacon Staff WriterAn Okaloosa County sheriffs shot and killed a dog last week in Niceville after the animal threatened the officer. Deputy Bill Myers Jr. responded to an animal call shortly before noon Nov. 20, after two women on 46th Street reported that a husky chocolate Labrador dog had come to their door with bared teeth and tried to attack them in their house, according to a sheriffs office incident report. The animal was accompanied by a smaller dog. The deputy spotted the two dogs leave some woods and walk onto 46th Street, according to the sheriffs report. Myers reported that the dogs appeared to be friendly because they were wagging their tails, and the Labrador walked toward him. B ea co n photo by D e l L e ss ar d Among the 55 students attending a blended school for home-schooled students at Camp Timpoochee Tuesday were sisters Sarah Griffin, 8, left, and Gabriela Griffin, 10, of Niceville. Cathy Erickson, a certified school district teacher with 11 years teaching experience in Florida public schools, assisted them in an art class. Indian summerLate-season butterflies found the flowers at Niceville City Hall irresistible on a recent warm and sunny November morning. Beacon photo by Del LessardDistrict offers classes for students schooled at homeBy Del Lessard Beacon Staff WriterSince Sept. 25, about 55 home-schooled children have gone to Camp Timpoochee in Niceville, where they attend classes once a week offered by the Okaloosa County public school system. The fledgling program is called blended school. In July 2001, the Okaloosa County school board approved a new program to spend nearly $94,000 to offer homeschooled students a free blended school program to be taught by certified parttime teachers at three non-traditional school sites. With 41,128 home school students in the state last year, Florida ranks as the fastest growing state for homeschooled students,Assistant Superintendent of Schools Frank Fuller told the school board in July, with a 59 percent growth rate since 1996. Okaloosa County, he added, is among the fastest growing school districts for home schooling in the state, with an Please see DISTRICT, page A-5 Please see OLDER, page A-6T h e B a y Reacting swifly to a series of coordinated attacks against landmark buildings elsewhere in the United States, o fficials at Eglin Air Force Bas e tightened security at 9 a.m. Tuesday. By 10:30 a.m. Eglin Air Force Base, including the 33rd Fighter Wing, had heightened its security to the highest possible levelThreat C ondition Delta, officials s aid. According to a Defense Department security doctrine, Threatcon Delta, a threat condition standard se t by the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, applies in the immediate area where a terrorist attack has occurre d or when intelligence has been received that terrorist action against a specific location or person is likely. Norm ally, this Threatcon is declar ed as a localized condition. One airman who had just left the base Tuesday morning said Air Force Security Police officers were searching every incoming vehicle. Area bases tightened security in response not to a local specific threat but to what has happened elsewhere in the country. This was declared by the chief of staff of the Air Force, the Air Forces highest ranking officer, and is Air Force wide, B e a c o n 14 Pages, 1 Section, 2 Inserts Wednesday, September 12, 200 150baybeacon@aol.com Hometown news for Niceville, Valparaiso and Bluewater Bay. (850) 678-1080E X P R E S S Reaction to attacks Church Services A-8 Inquiring Photographer A-9 The Entire Weeks News, Events, and Schools Coverage Published Every Saturday Just fill out this coupon and get it to our office, with payment, by 4 p.m. Thursday, and we'll start 52 weeks of Saturday's Bay Beacon this Saturday .Of course you read the Beacon Express every Wednesday. But your week isnt complete without reading Saturdays Bay Beacon which is available only by subscription or newsstand sale. Payment............................One full year (52 weeks) fo r $24.95 Sat urday Dece m b er 2 3 2 0 0050 Vol. 18, No. 26 8 Pages, 1 Se ction(850) 678-10 8 0 b a yb eaco n @a o l. co mVie w p oin t A -5 Spo rts A -6 C lassified s A -7Last Minute G ift I deas A-8 INSIDE The hometo wn n ewspaper for N i ceville, Valpar aiso and B luewater Bay .The Bay Beacon ph o t o b y De l L e ssardEven angels get cold earsBrav ing s ubf reezin g w e a the r We dn es da y night, me m bers of the V a lp a raiso Assembl y o f God p rese nte d an outdo or Chr i st ma s Na t i vity scen e, inc lu ding s e v eral farm a nimals pl ent y o f shep herds and kings, pl us hot cho c ol ate an d l um i na rie s Henrietta Carr a no, le ft, p ortr ay ed Mary, a nd Kri s t e n Lossing er a n an gel in ear m uff s .Niceville Delchamps to become Food WorldAcquisition by Winn-Dixie is blocke d by FTCB ru nos Sup erma rk ets In c., an Al abam a-base d co mp an y that is the parent of Food Wo rld stores, said t h is week it ha d agr eed to b uy the De lc h a mps supermark e t i n Nicevi lle. The dea l was r ea ched a fter a pr evi ously anno un c ed pl a n to sell the De lc ham ps st ore to Winn-Dixie St ore s Inc. r a n into federa l antitru s t object ion s. The Nicevil l e sto re, which is scheduled to c hang e hands i n early J anu a ry, wi ll operate under t he F ood Wor l d n ame, Bruno s sa id. On M onday Brun o s of Bir min gham, Ala., said it would purchas e 19 s up erm a rkets f rom Jitne yJ u ng l e Stores of Amer ic a In c ., a nd its subsidiary, D elchamps Inc. The pur chase in c ludes 1 2 grocery sto res in Al a bama one in M is sissippi, and six in Flor i da, as we ll a s five li q uo r s tor es an d tw o gas station s The Delch amps superm arPle ase see FO O D page A-8Road construction set at south end of bridgeMo re ro ad con str ucti o n is coming to the Ba y a r ea, as the Mid-B ay Br idge Autho rity (MBBA), Flor id a D epartment of T ra ns portat ion (DOT), and other agencies combin e re s ou rces to w iden St ate Rout e 293 between th e south end of the MidBa y Bridge and H ighw ay 98, Destin, starting in May 2 001. During Thur sdays meet ing o f the Mi dB ay B ridge Au thor i ty MBBA m embers discussed th e project w ith en gin eers and other of fici als. Fou r-lan ing t he tw o lan e h ighway is e x pected to cos t ab out $6 milli o n. Abou t $2 .5 m il lion o f this wi ll co me from the DO T in the form of m atc hin g grant s, while Okaloo sa Coun ty wi ll p ro vid e in-ki nd s ervices such as e n gineering advice and administr a ti v e su ppor t as w ell as funne l s o me im pact f e es from busin esse s and land de v e lo pers w ho will benef it f ro m the impro v ed roa d. The City of Destin may also c o ntrib u te but h a s not made a f inal decision T he rest of the fundin g wil l come fr om the M BBA, said a u thority E x ecutive Direc to r Jim Vest The ma in b enefit f rom the p roj ect will be to rel ie v e traf fic congestion an d imp ro ve sa fety nea r the SR2 93/ Hi ghw ay 98 i nt e rse ct i on b y pro vi di ng a n e xt r a l ane n e a r t he e nt rances to t h e Wal g ree n s s tore an d oth er nea rb y b u s in es ses, said pro je ct manager S. S cott Early, with the Pensa col a f irm of HD R Engine e rin g I nc. Early sa id the project will also pr o vi de e xtra lanes an d a median n ear Destin Middl e S cho ol. Th a t wi ll mak e it sa f er f or schoo l buses to make the tur n in and ou t of th e scho ol p arkin g lot, he sa id. Early al so sa id his firm will p ursue a very aggr es siv e wor k schedule, a nd th a t com plet ion of th e ro ad wi d e ni ng is expected by Ma y 20 02 In addition to widening t h e road a nd insta ll ing media ns, the proje ct w i ll als o include tra f fic s ignals for v ehicles a nd pede strians, si de w a lk s, cu rbs, a nd a closed dr ainag e syste m In other busi ne ss at Thur s d ays MBB A me eti ng figu res w ere pre sent ed o n t r af f ic and re v enue. To ll r eve n ue f or t h e 1 99 9 -20 00 f iscal year was r unning ab out 1 0 pe r cent above t he previo u s y ear through July, but dropped when the brid geB y M ik e Gr iff it h B e a c o n Co r r e s p o n d e n tB y D e l L e s s a rd B e a c o n St a ff W r ite r Please se e RO A D, page A83-story hotel planned near bayou spanA plan to bu ild a t h ree-sto ry hotel jus t east of the Rock y B a y ou Bri d ge has cl eared a h ur dle. On Thursday the p roposed hote ls devel oper w o n preliminar y a ppr o v a l from Okal oos a C ounty plann ers wh o r e vie w ed plans f or the propose d 56 roo m hotel The pr ojec t is plan ned by Lauren Corpor at ion on just o ver a n acr e south of Highway 20. T he prop ert y, to b e developed by Nicevil l e d ev elo per L arry W rig ht, is n ot on the water, b ut is abo ut 3 00 feet east of R ocky B a you. The tract, w hic h is zone d Busine ss R eta il D istri ct, i s ad jacen t to b u t s eparated b y a wooden privacy f ence f r om, a res id enti al area on Ev ans Cou rt. P at Blac kshear O kaloo s a Cou ntys plann er, told the Beacon Thursday that Wright had met th e major r equire men t le vied b y the c ounty s T echn i c a l Revie w Com mittee: get t ing easements fromB y D el Le s s a r d B e a c o n S ta f f Wr ite rThis years weird toyDiss ecting an alienEac h Chris tmas s ea son, ce rta in to ys se em t o be co me t he ye ar s hot i te ms, s uc h as P ok emo n, Tickl e M e Elm o, Be an ie Ba bies, or sco ote r s E v e ry s o ofte n, ho weve r a nothe r kind of to y a ppe ars t o ys tha t are a lit tl e s tr a nge wi th a da r k side T o ys t ha t mi ght l ook be t ter under a H a llo we e n pumpki n t han under a Ch r i s tm a s tr ee. T wi s te d to y s. T hi s ye ar s twis te d t o y is c al led A lien Aut opsy m arketed by T r endmast ers Inc., and based o n the pop ula r D e xt er s Labor ator y ca r t oon s ho w, w hic h f e a ture s a ma d lit tl e scie nt is t who creates mo n sters an d de ath ra ys i n his ba se m ent la b A imed a t c hil dr e n age 6 and up, a ccor ding t o the b ox l abeli ng, Alien Auto psy conta in s a pl astic alien cr eature, and kids are su ppos e d to per for m a n a ut opsy on it While e x amin ing th e extr a-terre st r ial cad a v er, ki ds c an ma k e ca ndy a nd s oft drin ks f r om to ol s and in gred ie nts inc l uded i n t he box. T he se i ncl ude a s cum sp oon, an d suppli es o f gum my bra in jui ce yum m y f i zzy eye r o t, a nd e ven mor e repe llen t bodi l y s e c r et io ns. Lab eli ng on the box e nc ourag es kid s to Bi t e it s brai n! and Ea t ic k y e ye f i zz a s the y d iss ec t t hei r unf o r t una te l ittl e a lie n. It is n ot cle ar j ust wha t ch il dren a ged 6 an d up a re suppose d to l ea rn from A lien Aut opsy o r wha t ef fect pla ying wit h s uc h a to y might ha v e on th ei r psyc hes P erhap s th e same e f fec t ki ds get from t e ll ing e ac h oth er gr oss -out jo k es i n the sc ho ol cafe ter ia w here th e ult i mat e succ es s is get ting t he othe r ki d to la ugh ha rd enou gh t o ma k e mil k c ome out h i s nose. The Be ac on at t empt ed to co nta ct Tr e ndma sters by phone an d email, b ut t he pu blic rel at i ons s pok e sper s on wa s unavai lable at thi s ti me. B y M ik e G r if f it h B e a co n C o r re sp o n d e n t P lease see T OY pa ge A8Beacon Beacon p hoto b y Del Le ssa r dWarming up to winterBil l S ha w l eft, of N i ce v il l e, and Fr ed Car t e r, Sha l imar warm up over a f ire ba rre l a t a Christm a s tree s a les lo t a t Jo hn S i ms P a rkway and Partin D ri ve F re e zing tem peratures and brisk w i nds ushe red in the official sta r t of w in t er T hursda y. Holiday schedulesChristma s Day Mo n d ay De c e m be r 25 G o vernme nt Nicev ille city o f fic es . .... .. ............. ... ... Closed V alpar a iso ci ty of f ices ... .... ..... .......... Clo s ed (Dec 26 -29 close at n o on) State offic es ............ ... ... . .... .... .. .... .. .Clos e d F e d e ra l offic es .... . ..... ... ... .... ... ...........Clo s ed Egl in office s ........ ............. ... ... ... ... ... .. Cl o s ed Oka loos a pu b lic sch o ol s .. .. .......... ...Cl osed to Jan 5 OWCC... ... ................. ... ... .... ... .... .....Clo sed Niceville Chil d r en s Park .... ..... ... .. .... Cl ose d U.S Po s tal Service.. .... .. ... ... ..... . .... .No delivery Ba n ks ............ ... ... ....... .. ........... .. .... ..Close d Beacon Newsp ap e r s .. ... .... .. . .. .. .... .. .Clo sedG a rbage pickups City of Nic evi lle ... ... ...... .... .. ..... .... ... .. No pic kups Ci t y of Valparai s o..... ... .... .... .. ....... ....N o picku ps (w il l s e rve M on cust o m e r s on Tu es .) V ade n Sanitation ... ... ... ... .................. No pickups Gulf C o a st Wa ste (BFI). .. .... ... .... .. .. ...No p ic kups Was te M anagemen t. ...... .... .. .. .... ..... .No pi ckup s B ea con p ho to b y Del Lessard E ntrance to s i te of pla nned hot el ea st of Roc ky Ba y ou bridge. Please se e HOT EL page A-2Rash of break-ins blamed on suspectL aw e n f o rc ement of f i cers fr o m thr e e j ur isd i ct io n s sa y the y have so lv e d a t le a st 1 0 rece n t b ur g lar i e s f oll o wing a r re st of a Cho ct a w Be a ch man by Ni c e v i l l e p ol ice I nv est iga t ors g o t t h ei r f i rs t brea k w hen M i ch a el Jam es N elso n Pr euss, 2 6 o f 235 L i v e Oak St., Ch oc ta w Beach wa s arre st e d by Nice vil le po l i ce No v. 2 1 f o r p ro w li ng a nd l o it e r ing a nd p oss e ss ion o f b u rg l ar y t o o ls af t e r a p a tr o l o f f i ce r sa w Pr eu ss ne xt t o a v e h i cl e in a use d car l ot at 2 a m On No v. 22 N i c e vill e p o lic e an d an i n ve st i g a t or fr o m th e Okalo o sa Co unt y Sh er if f s Of fi c e we n t to th e Ch oct a w Bea ch r esi d enc e Pre us s sha red wit h a w oma n a nd got her c onse nt to sea r ch f o r s u s pe c ted st ole n it ems acc ord ing to pol ic e r epo rt s. T he w o m an al so le d p o li ce to a v ac a nt t rai le r on Co u nty L ine Ro a d wh er e, sh e tol d la wm e n, she and Pre us s h ad stor e d se v era l it em s she bel ie ve d st ole n a cc o r din g t o the re por t s. Based o n sto le n i t em s p o li c e re c o v er ed f r o m t h e t r ai ler Ni ce vi ll e p ol i ce ar r e ste d Pr euss De c. 1 o n one cou n t e a ch of b u r g la ry a n d gr and thef t f o rB y D e l L e s sa rd B e a c on S ta ff W ri te r Please s ee R AS H, pag e A -2 Allow up to 1 week for proce ss ing of new or d er s *Offer goo d in Niceville, Valparai s o, Freeport, an d Eglin Zip Co d e s only. El s ewhere higher rate s apply. Call (850) 678-1080. Freepor t an d Eglin Zip s d o not receive s amed ay d elivery.Name: Phone: Address*: Check One: Niceville Valparaiso Eglin FreeportThe Bay Beacon covers Niceville, Valparaiso, and Bluewater Bay. V isa MasterCard Plea se check form of payment b elow: Check or Money Order / CARD EXPIRATIONDATESIGNATURE OFCARDHOLDER DATE VISAOR MASTERCARD NUMBERS FULL WEEKS i nSATURDAYS PAPER! FULL WEEKS i nSATURDAYS PAPER!Please send coupon and payment to: The Bay Beacon, 1181 E. John Sims Par kway, Niceville, FL 32578. Or you may fax your credit car d order to 729-3225 or email it to baybeacon@aol.com. For more informatio n, call The Bay Beacon at (850) 678-1080. Subscribe Now !News News News Please see JUDGES page A-3 Please see BUDGET page A-3 Please see TRIAL page A-3 her terminal illness, according to an arrest report. When deputies arrived at the couples residence they found Mr. Wheeler bleeding from an apparently selfinflicted wou nd to his neck. The knife apparently used to kill Mrs. Wheeler was found under his pillow in the bedro om, according to the arrest r eport. A circuit court judge ordered Wheeler released from the Okaloosa County Jail Feb. 14 on a defense motion seeking his transfer to a sec ure mental health unit at the Fort Walton Beach Medical Center. Wheeler was subsequently released on $100,000 cash bail April 19 and placed under community control restri ctions at anMurder trial of BWB man delayedBy Del Lessard Beacon Staff WriterThe murder trial of Bluewater Bay resident Earle Judson Wheeler Jr. has been postponed until January at the earliest. The trial had b een scheduled to begin Mo nday in Shalimar. Wheeler, 81, was arrested Feb. 1 on a charge of murder in the slaying of his wife, Patricia Van Duyn Wheeler, 78, whom authorities say was knifed to death in the couples townhouse on Bay Drive, Bluewater Bay. Mr. Wheeler allegedly called the Okaloosa County Sheriffs Office Jan. 31 and stated that he had killed his wife the previous day because of what he said was Beth Blankenship, court administrator for Okaloosa County, said the First Judicial Circuit has asked for additional judges for the past two years. The Florida Supreme Court set standards regarding case loads about two years ago, she said. Judge case loads were found to exceed those standards, she said. The state legislatur e approved funding for additional judgeships throughout Florida this year. Our role is to pick the best people, regardless of their politics, said Bruce Partington, a Pensacola attorney chairing the Judicial No minating Commission for the First Judicial Circuit. After interviewing all 30County to gain two new judgesBy Del Lessard Beacon Staff WriterOkaloosa County will see two new judgeships next January, one an additional county post, the other an add itional circuit court position. The two new judges will be appointed by the governor and are expected to assume the bench on Jan. 2. Today and Thursday, a nine-member judicial nominating commission will meet at the courthouse annex in Shalimar to i nterview each of 30 candidates who have applied for either one or both of the new judgeships. The cutoff date for application w as Aug. 24. The new positions were funded by the Legislature this year. Each judge normally serves a six-year term.Coming SaturdayNews scheduled for publication in The Bay Be acon this Saturday includes: Police Blotter, with arrests, crimes and other incidents affecting you and your neighbors. School sports. Whats happening in your schools, your neighborhood. Where your taxes are spent, and whos spending Please see COMING, page A-3budget of $235 million, including $181 million in general operating funds and set the property tax millage rate at 8.2 180 mills, the same as this year. No one from the public spoke before the school board on the proposed budget and millage rate. Salaries and benefits t otal $132.6 million, or 73.11 percent of the approved fisc al year 20012002 operating budget of $181.3 million. Included in the salaries and benefits is a one-time teacher bonus of $850 per teacher th at was approved by state legislators, and step increases approved by the school board, giving the typical teacher a 3 percent annual raise. The school district and the teachers union are still negotiat-School board approves $235 million budgetBy Del Lessard Beacon Staff WriterOn Monday night, the Okaloosa Cou nty School Board unanimously approved a totalSecurity tightened in wake of attacks on U.S.Okaloosa Airport closesAir travelers h ad their plans cut short by the attacks th at unfolded in New York and Washington, D.C., yesterday morning. Operations ceased at the Okaloosa County Regional Airport as the Federal Aviation Administration grounded commercial flights nationwide shortly after the attacks in New York and Washington, D.C., Tuesday morning. Motorists were ordered to remain at least 300 feet from the terminal buildin g. Stacey Kittell, a sergeant first class in the U.S. Army stationed at Eglin, was leaving the Okaloosa airport terminal about 9 a.m. He told the Beacon in the airport parking lot that he had already boarded an ASA plane bound for Atlanta yesterday morning when a plane crew member came on the intercom about 8:40 a.m. and announced that all flights nationwide had been grounded. Kittell said he h ad been headed to Washington on official duty. Kittell, who is assigned to the Joint Cruise Missile Defense group at Eglin, commented on the irony that despite the worry over missile defenses, it should turn out to be hijacked airliners that were apparently used to carry out Preventing terrorismBy Mike Griffith Beacon Corre spondentEditors note: In ad dition to writing for the Beacon, Mik e Griffith is a former Air Force Security Forc es and emergency management officer. He helped design the security sys tem for space shuttle facilities at Cape Canaveral, tested security systems at Eglin Air For ce Base, and administered anti-terrorist activities at installations in the Persian Gulf War and Europe. One of the most frightening aspects of terrorism is th e apparent unpredictability of terror ist attacks. Although most terrorist groups are actually rather small, weak organizations, they are able to make themselves seem more powerful than they really are, because they often have the element of surprise on their side. Because they might strike anywhere, they make themselves seem to be everywhere. Fortunately, te rrorist groups are not nearly as powerful as the y would like to appear, despite their ability to launch occasional spec tacular Please see AIRPORT, page A-8 Please see EGLIN, pag e A-8 Please see TERRORISM, page A-8 Local reaction: A -8, A-9. PerspectiveEglin takes precautionsAn Air Force Security Police officer, at right, sprints to challenge a reporter taking photos of the Eglin East Gate in Valparaiso Tuesday morning. Later in the morning, traffic backed up as officers checked identification of those entering the base and reportedly searched vehicles. Entry was restricted to those with Department of Defense IDs. Meanwhile, at the Okaloosa County Regional Airport outside Valparaiso, below, Okaloosa County sheriffs deputy Randal Hicks and an unidentified airport employ ee were ordering vehicles to remain at least 300 feet away from the terminal yesterda y morning, after the highest level of security was ordered. All flights were canceled nationwide. Beacon photos by Del LessardBy Teresa Arlund Beacon Staff WriterBy Del Lessard Beacon Staff Writer B e a c o n 14 Pages, 1 Section, 3 Inserts Wednesday, Sept. 19, 200150baybeacon@aol.com Hometown news for Niceville, Valparaiso and Bluewater Bay. (850) 678-1080E X P R E S S Meantime, Okaloosa County sheriffs deputies, along with law enforcement officials nationwide, were asked to be on the lookout for certain individuals possibly linked to the terror attack on the Uni ted States Sept. 11. The message fr om the FBIs Mobile, Ala., office stated that there have been reports that terrorists may try to use fire or EMS vehicles as vehicle bombs aimed at military basesThe FBI warns of hijacking threat to emergency vehiclesBy Del Lessard Beacon Staff WriterIn the wake of last weeks terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, D.C ., fire departments in Niceville, Valparaiso, Bluewater Bay and Choctaw Beach reported receiving a nationwide FBI warning yesterday of a possible planned terrorist hijacking of fire department or emergency medical vehicles that would be used to bomb military bases. Beacon photo by Del Lessard Business is slow at the Okaloosa County Regional Airport, which reopened Thursday under tighter security in the wake of last weeks terrorist attacks on the United States by hijacked airliners. B ea co n photo by D e l L e ss ar dEglin security remains tightIn response to fear of further terrorist attacks, security forces at Eglin Air Force Base are continuing to check identification of a ll motorists entering the huge air base, as in this scene at the East Gate in Valparaiso Monday. More t han 13,900 military, civilian and contractor personnel work a t Eglin Air Force Base. Thousands more work at Hurlburt Field and Duke Field. Even with st aggered work start times, long lines of traffic trying to enter the base occur at certain times of the day.Rocky Bayou bridge span this week will go a long way toward persuading motorists that the end of orange barrels and hour s long traffic jams is in sight. Weather permitting, east and westbound traffic on HighwayNew span to openBy Teresa Arlund Beacon Staff WriterResidents and business owners in Bluewater Bay, it appears, will have at least one thing to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. Highway 20 project engineer J.B. Yates said he expects all four lanes, from Niceville to White Point Road, to be open bef ore the Thanksgiving holiday Nov. 22. The opening of the new 20 is expected to be routed onto the new Rocky Bayou B ridge today or Thursday around 7 p.m., Yates said Monday. Shifting traffic to the new bridge will allow work crews to install new drainage structures and new approaches for the existing bridge. The move will also give worke rs space to complete th e new roadEglin cancels air showBy Del Lessard Beacon Staff W riterThe problem of getting the general public through the gates and onto the base at a time when Eglin Air Force Base gate guards are do ing 100 percent ID checks was one reason enough to cancel a oneday air show Eglin had scheduled for next Satur day, Air Force officials said. Eglin Air Force Base had scheduled the air show and open house for Sept. 22. But last week the base announced it canceled the show in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York City and at the Pentagon near Washington, D.C. Since the attack, security at Eglin and other U.S. bases has been tightened considerably. Air Force police officers are inspecting the identification of all persons entering the base. Some vehicles are being searched. The inspections have caused substantial delays for motorists entering the base. Eglin spokeswoman Lois Walsh said the main reason for canceling the show was the problem of getting the general public onto the base in a timely manner while still inspecting everyones ID. Although there may have been other security considerations, Wal sh said,the access problem alone made those moot. All scheduled planes took off Monday, Curry said. Were back to a normal opera ting schedule. Airports nationwide were closed immediately following the attacks Sept. 11. Most, including Okaloosa, reopened Thursday. Airlines reported that fewer people were flying, andOkaloosa airport business offBy Teresa Arlund Beacon Staff WriterSlow, but recovering. Thats how Airport Operations Manager and Security Coordinator Terry D. Curry characterized business at Okaloosa Regional Airport Tuesday. some airlines announced s chedule cutbacks and layoffs. Under its lease with Eglin Air Force Base, which maintains the runways and air traffic control, the Okaloosa airport is limited to 84 total landings and takeoffs a day. The airport currently uses 52 of those slots. All 52 were used Monday, Curry said. Curry described business as, slow, but recovering. When you stop a system as large as this, it takes time to reposition your aircraft, he said. Its a steady build, Curry said. You can see it incre asing. Its going to take us a littl e Please see FBI, page A-11 Please see AIRPORT, page A-2 Please see EGLIN, page A-2 New span of Rocky Bayou bridge will open to traffic this week. Please see NEW, page A-11 The Entire Weeks News, Events, and Schools Coverage Published Every Saturday Just fill out this coupon and get it to our office, with payment, by 4 p.m. Thursday, and we'll start 52 weeks of Saturday's Bay Beacon this Saturday .Of course you read the Beacon Express every Wednesday. But your week isnt complete without reading Saturdays Bay Beacon which is available only by subscription or newsstand sale. Payment............................One full year (52 weeks) for $24.95 S atu rd ay Dece m ber 2 3, 2 00 050 V o l. 18, No 26 8 P ag es, 1 S ect io n(850) 6 78 10 80 baybea c on@a o l .comVi e wp oint A5 Spor ts A-6 Classifi eds A-7L ast M inute Gift Ideas A-8 INSI DE T h e hom et o wn newspaper for N ice ville, V al pa r aiso an d B lu ewa ter B ay.The Bay B eac o n p h oto by De l Les s ar dEven angels get co ld earsBra ving subfreezing w e ather W edne sday nigh t, m ember s o f t he V a lp ar ais o A ss em bl y o f G od p rese nted an outd o o r Ch ri st m a s Nati vi ty scen e, i nc l ud in g se veral f arm ani m a ls pl e nty of shep herd s an d ki ngs, p l u s h ot cho c o la t e an d lu mi na ri es. H enrie tt a C arran o le ft p o rtr ay ed M ar y a nd Kri s te n L os sin g er an an gel in ea r m uf fs.Ni cevi lle Del c ha m ps t o become Fo od W o rldAcquisition by Winn-Dixie is blocked by FTCBru nos Supermarket s Inc., a n Alabama-b a sed compan y that is the pa rent of Food Wo rl d st ores, s aid this w e e k i t had agreed to b uy t he De l c h amp s s u p er mark et in Nice vill e. Th e deal was reac hed after a previ ousl y annou nced pl a n t o sel l the De lch amp s s to re t o Wi nnDixie St ores I nc. ran into federal ant it ru st obj ect ion s. T h e N ic e ville store w h ic h is sche duled t o change hands in earl y January, wi ll op erat e under t he F oo d World na me, Bruno s sai d. On Mond ay Brun o s, o f Birmi ng ha m Al a., said it w oul d pur ch ase 19 superm a rkets f rom Ji t ne yJungl e S t ores of Ameri ca Inc., an d its subsi diar y Delchamps In c. The purchase incl udes 1 2 groce r y s to res i n Al ab ama, one in Mi s sis sippi, and si x in F lorida, as wel l as f i v e l i quor s t ores and tw o gas st atio ns. The Delchamps superma rPlea se see F O OD pag e A8Road construction set at south end of bridgeMore road con s tru ction is coming to the Bay area, a s the Mid-Bay Bridge Au t hority (M BBA), Florida Depart me nt o f T r a n s p o rta t i o n (DO T), and other agenci es com b ine resour ce s t o widen S t ate Rou te 2 93 betw een the sout h end of t he MidBay Bri d g e an d Highw a y 98, De sti n, s tarting i n M ay 2001. During Thursday s meeti ng of t h e Mid-B ay Br i dge Authori ty, MB BA me m be rs dis cussed the proj e ct wi t h engi neers and ot her of f i cial s. Fourl a n i ng t he tw o -l ane high way is expec ted t o cost about $6 million Abou t $2.5 milli on of t his will com e from t he DO T in the form of m a tching grants, whi le Okaloo sa County wi l l pro vi de i n-k i nd servi ces su ch as engi neering ad vice and admini str ative s upport, as well as funnel som e i mpac t fees from busi ness es and land develope rs who wi l l benef it fr om the i mpro v ed road. The City of Dest in may also c ont ribut e, b ut has no t made a f i na l decisi on. The rest of t he funding wi l l come f rom the MBBA, sai d au t hori t y Execu t i v e Direct or Ji m Vest. The mai n bene f i t from t he project wi ll be to relieve traf fic conge stion and i m prove safety near the SR293 / Hi g h w ay 9 8 i n te rs ect io n b y p r ovid ing an e x tr a la n e n e a r t he ent rances to the W al greens stor e an d ot her nearby b usi nes ses s a i d project m anager S Sco t t Early wit h t h e P ensaco la f irm o f H DR Engi neering Inc. Earl y s aid the projec t will al so pro vide extra lanes and a medi an near D es tin Mi ddl e Sc hool That will make i t safer for school buses t o make t he t urn i n and out of the sch ool parking lot, he s a i d Early also said hi s firm w i ll pursue a v ery a g gre s sive w ork sch ed ule, an d that compl etion of t he road wi den i ng i s ex pected by M ay 2002. In addi tio n to w i dening the road and instal l ing med ians t h e p r oje ct wil l al s o include tra f fic s ignals for v e hi c l es and pedest ri ans, side wal ks, cu r bs, and a c l osed draina ge sys t em. In ot he r b usi ness at Thursday s MBBA meeti n g, figures were presen t ed on traff ic and reve nu e. Toll rev en ue f or th e 1 99 920 00 f isca l year w as runni ng about 10 pe rcent abo v e the pre viou s y ear throug h July, bu t dropped when t he bridgeBy M ike G riffith Beaco n Co rre sp o n d e n tBy Del Le ss ar d Be a con Staff Wri ter P le ase see RO A D pag e A 83-story hotel planned near bayou spanA plan to buil d a t hree-story hotel j us t east of the Rock y B ayou Bri dge has c leared a hurdle. On T h u r sd ay the propos e d ho t el s devel oper w on pr el im i nary app r o val f r o m Ok a lo os a Co unt y plann e rs who re viewed pl ans for the proposed 56-room hotel Th e project i s pl anned b y Lauren Corporat i on on just ove r an ac re south of Hi ghw ay 20. The prop ert y, to be de vel o ped by Nicevi ll e dev el ope r La rry Wright, is not on t he w ater but i s about 300 feet east of Rocky Bay ou. Th e t ra ct which i s zo ned Business Re t ail Distri ct i s a dj a c en t to b ut se p arat ed by a wooden priv ac y fence fro m, a residential ar e a on Ev ans C ourt P a t B l a ck s h e ar Oka lo o sa Countys pl a nner t old t h e Beacon Thurs day tha t Wright had met the maj o r r equire m ent le vied b y th e co u n t y s T e ch n ic al R e vi e w Committ ee: ge t tin g e asements fromB y De l L ess a r d Be a c o n S ta ff W rite rThis year s weird toyDissecting an alienEa ch C h r ist m as s easo n, ce r tai n to y s s eem t o bec om e t h e y ear s ho t item s, such as Pok e m o n Ti ckl e M e E l mo, B e a n ie Bab i e s, o r s c o ot er s. E v e r y s o o f te n h o we v er, a n oth e r k in d o f to y a pp e a rst o y s t h a t ar e a li t tle str a n ge, with a dark sid e T oys tha t mig h t l o o k b e tte r u n d er a Ha l l o w e e n pump kin t ha n u nd e r a Ch r i s t m a s t ree. T w iste d toy s. This y e a r s tw isted to y i s calle d A l i e n Aut opsy mar k et ed b y Tr en d ma ste r s Inc., a n d based on the p o p ula r D e x ters Labo rat o r y c a r too n sh o w, w hich f e atu r e s a mad little s cie n t is t wh o c r ea te s mo n st e r s a n d dea th r ays in his bas e m ent lab. A ime d a t chi l d ren a ge 6 an d up, ac c or ding to t he box lab e lin g A lien A u t o ps y co n tain s a pl astic a lie n cr ea ture, a nd ki ds are sup p o sed to p erf o r m a n a u to p sy on i t Wh ile e xa mining th e extra-t e r re strial cada ver k i ds can m a k e c a n d y a n d so f t d rink s fro m too ls a n d ing r e dients i n cl ud e d in t he b ox. T h es e i n clude a s c um sp o on, a n d sup pl ie s o f g um m y b r a in juice, y um m y f iz zy eye r ot, a nd e ven more re p e llent bo dily se cretions La belin g on the b ox enc o u rag es ki ds t o Bi t e its b r a in! a nd E a t ick y e y e fi z z as t h e y disse ct the i r u n fo r tun a te l ittle a lien I t i s n o t c lear ju st wh at child ren aged 6 a n d u p a r e su pp o s ed to le a rn f rom A lien A uto p sy o r w ha t ef f ec t pl a ying w it h such a to y mi ght h a ve o n t heir p sy c h es. Pe r haps th e s am e e f fec t ki d s ge t f ro m telli n g ea c h ot h e r gross -out jok e s i n th e s c h o ol c a fete r i a, wh ere t he ult im a te suc c ess is g etting the other kid t o laugh ha rd eno ug h t o ma k e mi lk co m e o u t h is no se. The B e a co n a tt e m pted t o co n ta ct Tre n dm a ster s b y p h o n e a nd e m a il, b ut th e pu blic re lat ions s p ok esp e r son wa s un a vaila b l e a t t h is t ime By M ike G r if f i th Bea co n C o rre spo n de n t P l e ase se e T OY, p age A 8Beacon Beac on p ho to by Del Le s sar dWarm ing up to win terBi ll S haw, l ef t, o f N i ce vi ll e, an d Fred C arte r Shal i m ar w arm up ove r a f i r e ba rr e l a t a Chris tm as t r ee sa les lo t at John S i m s P arkw ay and Part in D ri ve. Freezi n g t em per a tu re s a nd b ri sk w i nds ushered in t he o ff ic i al st art of win t er T hu rs d a y H o lida y sch e du le sChri st ma s Day Mond ay Dece m b er 25 Go v ern m en t N ic e v ille city o f fic es ...... .... .. ...... ...... ..Clo s e d Va lp a ra is o c ity of fic es ........................ Clo s e d ( De c 26 -2 9 c lo s e a t n o o n ) State o f fic es .......................................Clos e d F e d er a l o f fi ce s ...................................C lo s ed Eg lin of fice s .. .. .. . .. . .. ... .. .... .. ... .. .... .. Clos e d O ka loo s a p ub lic s c h o o ls ...................Clo s e d to Jan 5 O W CC ...............................................Clo s e d N ice ville C hi ldr en s P a rk ................ ...C lo s ed U.S. Po s tal Se r v ic e ...........................No de liv ery B an k s .. .... ........ ... .. ...... .... .. ...... ..........Clo s e d Be a c o n N e w s pa pe rs .........................C lo s edGarba ge pi ck ups City o f Nic evi lle ..... .............................No p ick up s C ity o f V a lpa ra is o .. ...... ..... .. ... ........ ..No p icku p s (will s er ve M o n c u s to m e r s on T ue s .) Vad en S a nitatio n ............................... N o p ic k u ps G u l f C o as t W a s te (BF I) ..... ...... ..........No p ick u p s W a s te Ma na ge m e nt ....... ...................N o p ic k up s B eaco n p h o to by De l L essa rd Entra nce to si t e of p la nned hot el eas t of R ock y B ayou bri dge Pl eas e see H O TE L, pag e A -2Rash of break-ins blamed on suspectL aw en f orce men t o f fi c e rs fro m t h re e jur isd ict ions s ay th e y hav e so l v ed at least 10 re cent b ur g la ries follo wing arrest of a Cho ct a w B each man by Ni c e v ille p oli ce. Investiga to rs go t their f irst br eak whe n Michael James Nelson P reuss, 26, of 235 Li v e Oak St., Choc ta w Beac h was a rr e ste d by Nic e ville p ol i ce No v. 21 for pro wl ing an d loit ering and possession of b ur gl ary tools after a patrol o f ficer sa w Pre uss ne xt to a v ehicl e i n a use d car l ot at 2 a.m On No v. 22 Nice ville police and an in v es tigator from the Ok aloos a C ounty Sherif fs O f fice w ent t o t he C hoc ta w Beac h re s id enc e Pre uss shared w i th a wom an a nd g ot he r co nsent to sea rch for susp ected s tole n i tem s, acco rd in g to pol ice r ep or ts. The w oman also led poli ce t o a v acan t tra iler on Count y Li ne Roa d, w here sh e t ol d la wmen, she and Pre us s had stor ed se ve ra l items she be lie ved st ol en, acco rd ing to t h e repo rt s. Ba sed on stolen i tems police reco v ere d from the trail er Nic e vil le p olice a rr est ed Pre uss Dec. 1, on on e count ea ch of b u r glary and gra nd theft fo rBy D e l L es s ard Be a co n S ta ff Writer P le ase see R A S H pag e A 2 Allow up to 1 week for proce ss ing of new or d er s *Offer goo d in Niceville, Valparai s o, Freeport, an d Eglin Zip Co d e s only. El s ewhere higher rate s apply. Call (850) 678-1080. Freeport an d Eglin Zip s d o not receive s amed ay d elivery.Name : Pho ne: Address *: Check One : Nicevill e Valparaiso Eglin Freepo rtThe Bay Beacon covers Niceville, Valparaiso, and Bluewater Bay. V isa MasterCard Please check form of payment below : Check or Money Order / CARD EXPIRATIONDATESIGNATURE OFCARDHOLDER DATE VISAOR MASTERCARD NUMBERS FULL WEEKS i nSATURDAYS PAPER! FULL WEEKS i nSATURDAYS PAPER!Please sen d coupo n and payment to: The Bay Beacon, 1181 E. John Sims Parkway, Niceville, FL 32578. Or you may fa x your credit card order to 729-3225 or email it to bayb eacon @aol.co m. For more informa tion, ca ll The Bay Beacon at (850) 678-1080. Subscribe Now !News News NewsCruise missile testedThe Navy tested a submarine-launched cruise missile at Eglin Air Force Base yesterday. The missile, of the sort which has been used to attack terrorist bases, among other targets, was launched at 9:46 EDT from the USS Connecticut, which was submerged in the Atlantic off Jacksonville, the Navy said. The Tomahawk missile flew a 520-mile land attack mission across north Florid a, part of the Gulf of Mexico and the Florida Panhandle before impacting on the Eglin test range, the Navy said. Test missiles typically do not carry warheads. Mondays test, the 394th Tomahawk flight test, was of particular interest because it was apparently the first since terrorists destroyed the Wor ld Trade Center in New York and damaged the Pentagon Sept. 11 at a cost of 5,000 lives. The U.S. fired cruise missiles at bases in Afgh anistan linked to the terrorist leader Usama Bin Ladin after he was linked to two bombings of U.S. embassies in Africa in 1998. Offi cials called Bin Laden a prime suspect in the Sept. 11 attacks on the U.S. there werent any. We check the wells every day, Littrell said. All wells have intrusion alarms that are wired to water department hea dquarters at Garniers Bayou north of Fort Walton B each, he said. The Okaloosa County Water and Sewer Department opera tes 24 water wells scatte red around the county and 15 water tanks, he said. Water providers around the area were taking extra security measures following a warning from the American Water Works Association, Littrell said. While the FBI said it had no information of any specific threats against the nations public works infrastructure, it urged all owners and operators to implement appropriate security measure s at least through Oct. 11, the association said.Officials act to protect public water suppliesBy Del Lessard Beacon Staff WriterWater managers around the area are taking precautions to protect the public from possib le terrorist attacks. Heeding nationwide warnings in the wake of the Sept. 11 assault on the U.S., wa ter officials in Niceville, Valparaiso and Okaloosa County have do ublechecked that doors and fenc es around water wells and water tanks are locked and alarms are set. Jeff Littrell, water and sewer director for Okaloosa County said that by the evening of Sept. 11, locks on all doors and pumps to county water wells and hatches on above-ground tanks had been checked. In some cases, he said, locks were added where Helping families of slain firefightersLocal firefighters con ducted a boot drive Saturday and Sunday, using their work boots as containers for donations to help families of firefighters killed by the Sept. 11 terroris t attack in New York. North Bay firefighters helped bag groceries at the Winn-Dixie supermarket in Bluewater Bay, left. In Niceville, firefighters at John Sims Parkway and Palm Boulevard collected money from passing motorists. Valparaiso an d East Niceville firefighte rs collected at John Sims and Government Drive. Story, A-4. Beacon photo by Mike Griffith B e a c o n 14 Pages, 1 Section, 2 Inserts Wednesday, September 26, 200150baybeacon@aol.com Hometown news for Niceville, Valparaiso and Bluewater Bay. (850) 678-1080E X P R E S S The Entire Weeks News, Events, and Schools Coverage Published Every Saturday Just fill out this coupon and get it to our office, with payment, by 4 p.m. Thursday, and we'll start 52 weeks of Saturday's Bay Beacon this Saturday .Of course you read the Beacon Express every Wednesday. But your week isnt complete without reading Saturdays Bay Beacon which is available only by subscription or newsstand sale. Payment............................One full year (52 weeks) for $24.95 Satu rd ay Decem ber 23, 20 0050 Vo l. 18, N o 2 6 8 P age s, 1 S ec tio n(850) 678-10 80 baybeacon@a ol.comViewpoint A5 Sports A-6 Cl assifi eds A-7Last Minute Gift Ideas A-8 INSIDE The hometo wn newspaper for N iceville, V alparai so and B luewater B ay.The Bay B eac o n p hot o b y D el L essa rdEven angels get cold earsBravi ng s u bfre e zing w e at h er W edn esd a y ni gh t, memb er s of th e V a lp ar ai s o As sem bly o f G od p re sen t ed a n o u t do or Ch ris t m as N ativ it y sc en e, inc lu di n g s everal f arm ani m al s ple nt y o f s h e p h er d s an d ki ng s, p l u s h ot ch o co l at e an d lu m ina rie s. H en ri et t a C arra n o l ef t, p o rtra yed M a r y a nd K ri s te n L o ssing er an a ng el in e ar m u ff s .Niceville Delchamps to become Food WorldAcquisition by Winn-Dixie is blocked by FTCBruno s Superm ark ets Inc., a n A labam a-base d com pan y that is the parent of F ood Worl d stor es, sai d thi s wee k it ha d a gr eed to b uy the D e l ch amp s su pe rm a rk e t in N ice ville. T he dea l w a s rea ched after a previ ou sly announ ced pla n to sell the D elc h am ps sto re t o Win n Dixie S tores I n c. ran into fe deral an titrust ob jection s. The N ice v ille s to re, wh ic h i s sch edule d to change h ands in e arl y Ja nua ry w ill oper at e und er t he F ood W o r ld na m e, Br un o s sa id. O n M o n d a y Br u no s, of Bi rm ingham, Al a ., said i t w ou ld pur chase 19 super ma rk ets from Jitn e yJungle Stores of A m eri c a Inc., and its subsidiary D elch amps I nc. The pur c hase includes 12 gr oce ry s t o r e s i n A la b am a o n e in M ississippi, an d six in F l or ida a s w e l l as f ive l iqu or st ores a nd tw o ga s stations. The D elc ha m ps superma rPl eas e s ee FO O D pa g e A -8Road construction set at south end of bridgeMor e road con struction is com ing to the Bay a rea, as the M id-B ay Bridge Autho rity (M B B A ), Flor ida D e p a rt m e n t of Tra ns po r tatio n (D O T), and oth e r a ge ncies co mbine r es ou rces t o wide n St ate R oute 293 betw ee n t h e sout h end o f the M idB a y B r idg e a nd H igh w a y 9 8 D es tin, star ting in M ay 2001 Du rin g Thursday s m eet i ng o f the M id-B ay B r idge Author ity M BB A m ember s discusse d t he pro ject w ith e ng ineer s and other of f i c ials. Four-laning t h e tw o -lane highway i s e xp e ct ed to c o s t ab out $ 6 m ill ion A bout $2.5 milli on of th is will c ome fro m the DO T in t he form of m at ch in g gra nts, w hile Ok al oosa County w ill pro vide i nkind s e rvices s uc h as e ngine ering a dvice and a dmini strati ve support, a s w ell a s fu nnel som e im pact fe es f ro m b u sines se s a nd land de velopers w ho wi l l ben ef it from the impro ve d ro ad T he C ity of D estin ma y a lso c ontribu t e b ut ha s not m ade a f inal de cision. The res t of the f un ding w ill come from the MBB A said authority Exe cu ti ve D irec t or Jim Vest. T he ma i n be nef it from the pr oj e c t will be to re lie ve traf fic conge stion and im pro ve safe ty n ea r t he SR 2 9 3 / H i g h w a y 9 8 in te r s ec t io n by pr ovi din g an e xt ra l an e near t he entrance s to the Wa lgr een s store an d oth e r nea r by b usines se s, sa i d p r o jec t m ana ger S. S cott Ear ly w ith t h e Pe n sa c o la f i rm o f HD R E ngineer ing Inc. Early said the pr oject w ill also provide e xtra lanes and a me dia n near D e sti n M iddle S ch ool. Tha t w ill m ak e it s af er for sc hoo l b us es t o m a k e the t urn in an d ou t of t he scho ol parking lot, he said. E arl y also s aid his f irm w ill pu rsue a v ery aggr ess i ve w ork schedule, and t hat c om pletion o f the road widening is expec t e d by M ay 2 002 In ad dition to w id en i n g the road an d i nsta llin g m e dia n s, t he p ro je ct wi ll a l so inc lude traf f ic signals fo r v eh icle s and ped estrians, sid e wa lk s cur b s an d a c losed drainag e sys tem In o the r b us ines s a t Thurs d ay s M B B A me e tin g, f igures were p rese n te d o n t raf fic a n d re ven ue. Tol l r e ven u e f or t he 1 99 9-20 00 f is ca l ye ar w as ru nni ng abo ut 10 p er c ent ab o ve th e p r e vio us year th ro u g h July b ut dr opped w he n the bridg eBy Mike Griffi t h Be aco n C o r re s p ond entB y De l Less ar d Bea c on Sta ff W r ite r Pl eas e s ee RO A D p ag e A83-story hotel planned near bayou spanA pl an to b uild a thre estory hot el just ea st of the R ock y B ayou Br i dg e has clea red a hurdle O n T h u rs d a y th e p ro pos e d h ote l s dev e lop e r w on prel im i n a ry ap p ro va l f rom Ok alo os a C ou nty pl a nners w ho re vie w e d pl a ns for the propo sed 56roo m hotel. T he projec t is planned by La uren C orp or at ion on ju st o ve r an a cr e so uth of H ighw ay 20. The pro perty to be d e velo pe d by N ice vi lle de velop e r La r ry W ri ght, i s not o n the water but is a bo ut 3 00 fe et e ast of Rock y Ba yo u The tra c t, which i s zone d Bu si ness Re tail D i strict, i s adjacent to, b ut sepa rated by a w ood e n pr i v a c y fen ce f rom, a r es id entia l are a o n Ev an s C o urt. Pa t Bl a ck s he a r Ok a lo os a C o un ty s pla nne r t old t he B ea co n Thur sda y that Wrig ht ha d m et t he m aj o r requ irem e nt l e v i ed b y t he c o u nty s T e c h n ic a l Re vi e w Com m it t e e: get ti n g ea se men t s fro mBy D e l L ess ard Be a co n Sta ff W rite rThis years weird toyDissecting an alienEach C h ristm as season, cert a in t o ys s e e m to become the y e a r s h ot it ems su c h as P ok em o n Tic k l e Me E l mo Beani e B abies, or s co oters. Ev ery so often, ho wever, another kin d of to y appe a rsto ys that a re a lit t le stran ge with a dar k s ide. T o ys that might loo k b etter un de r a Hallo w een pumpkin th an unde r a Christma s tree Twist ed toys Th is year s tw i st e d toy is ca lled Alien Au to psy, m a rk e ted b y Tr en d ma s ter s Inc. and b as ed o n the p opu l ar Dext e rs Lab oratory cartoon sh o w, w hich features a ma d li ttle sci entist who cre a te s mo n st ers a n d death rays in h is ba se m ent la b Aime d a t ch il dre n age 6 a n d u p, ac cording to the box l ab eli n g A l i e n Autops y c o n tains a pla stic ali en c reat ure a n d ki ds are s upposed to p erfo r m an autopsy on i t. W h il e e x a mi n in g t he extra-te rrestrial cada ve r k ids ca n m a k e ca n d y and s oft d rinks from tools an d ingredien ts includ e d in the bo x. T h e se inclu de a s c u m s p oo n, an d su pp li es of g u mmy b rai n ju i c e, y ummy f izzy e y e ro t, and e ven m ore rep ellent b odil y secretions. Label ing on the b ox encourages kids to B ite its b rain! and E a t ick y eye fizz as the y d issect th eir u nfo rt un ate little alien. I t is not clear j u st w hat chil dren aged 6 and up are supposed to l e arn fro m A lien Aut op sy or wha t ef fect pla y ing wi th suc h a to y might h a v e o n t h e ir psyc h es P erh aps th e same ef fect kids get from telling e ach othe r g rossout jokes in th e s c h o ol ca fe te ria, w h e re the ulti mate s u c c ess i s getti n g th e other ki d to laugh hard e nou gh to mak e mi lk co me out his no se. T he B eacon at te mp te d to c o n tact T re n d mas ters by p ho n e a n d em a il, b u t t he pub li c relations sp ok esp erson was una va ilable at this tim e By M ike G rif fit h B ea con C or res po nd e nt P lease s e e T O Y p age A -8Beacon B ea con p hot o by De l Le ss a rdWarming up to winterB ill S ha w le ft, o f N ice vill e, a n d Fred C ar t er S h ali m ar w a rm u p o ver a f ire b a rre l at a C hri st m a s t ree sal es l o t at J o hn Sim s P a rk w ay a n d Pa rt in D riv e. Freezin g t e m perat u res and b ri sk w i nds u sh e re d in th e o f ficia l st ar t o f w in te r T h u r s day H o liday s ch edule sC h ri s tm a s Day Mon d a y D e cem ber 25 Go vernm ent Nice ville ci ty of fices .. ........ ...... ...... .....Closed Val parai so city of f ices ... ... .............. .... Closed (D ec. 26-29 close at noon) State offices ... ...... ...... ......... ......... ....Clo sed Fe deral of fic es ..... .............. .. ....... .. ... .Closed Eglin o f f i ces .. ......... . ............... ......... Closed Okaloosa public schools .... .. ......... ...Cl osed to J an. 5 OWCC ......... ... ........ .. .... .. ... ...... .........Closed Nicevi lle Chil dren s Park ....... ..... ... ..Closed U.S Po sta l Servi ce ...... ............... ......No del ive ry Banks .... ...... ......... ...... ... .. ...... ....... ....Closed Beacon N ews pap ers ................. ........Clo sedGarb age pic kups Cit y of Nice ville ... ......... ...... ............... No pick ups Cit y of V alparaiso............ ........ ..........No pic kups ( will serve Mon. customers on Tu es.) V aden Sanita ti on . ... .......... ......... ....... No pick ups Gul f C oa st Waste (BF I) .. ...... ......... .. ..No picku ps W aste M anagement .... ........ ....... .......No picku ps B e aco n p h o to by D e l Le ssa r d En tra nce to s i te of p la n n ed h ote l east of R o ck y B a yo u b ridg e. Pl eas e s ee H O T EL, pag e A 2Rash of break-ins blamed on suspectL a w e nf or c em ent of f icers fro m three juri sdicti ons say the y have solv ed at le ast 1 0 rec ent bur g lar ies follow i ng arres t of a Ch octaw Be a ch man by N ic evil le poli c e. In ves tigators go t their f i rs t bre ak when Michael Jam es N e l son Preu ss, 2 6, of 235 Li ve Oak St., Choc ta w Be ach, w as arre sted by Nic e vill e polic e N ov 21 for pr o w ling and loiteri ng a n d p os session of b ur gl a ry tool s after a patrol offic er saw Preu s s n e xt to a v ehi cl e in a us ed car lo t a t 2 a.m. On Nov. 22 N i ce ville p olice and an investi g a t or f rom the Ok a loosa County Sher i ff s Off ice went t o th e Cho cta w Beach r es i de n c e Pr e uss s har ed w ith a w oman a n d go t he r c onsent to s ear ch for sus pected stolen items according t o poli ce repo r ts. The woman al s o led pol ice to a vacant trai ler on Co u n ty Line R oa d, wh e re s he tol d l a w me n, she and Preu ss h ad s tored s e vera l i tems she belie ved stolen, according to the re por ts. Ba sed o n s tolen items police recovered from th e t rail er N ice ville pol ic e ar rested Pr e uss Dec. 1, on o ne count eac h o f b urglary and grand the ft forB y De l L es sa rd Be aco n St a ff W r i te r Ple as e see R A S H pa g e A2 Allow up to 1 week for proce ss ing of new or d er s *Offer goo d in Niceville, Valparai s o, Freeport, an d Eglin Zip Co d e s only. El s ewhere higher rate s apply. Call (850) 678-1080. F reeport an d Eglin Zip s d o not receive s amed ay d elivery.Name: Phone: Address*: Check One: Niceville Valparaiso Eglin FreeportThe Bay Beacon covers Niceville, Valparaiso, and Bluewater Bay. V isa MasterCard Please check form of payment below: Check or Money Order / CARD EXPIRATIONDATESIGNATURE OFCARDHOLDER DATE VISAOR MASTERCARD NUMBERS FULL WEEKS i nSATURDAYS PAPER! FULL WEEKS i nSATURDAYS PAPER!Please send coupon and pa yment to: The Bay Beacon, 1181 E. John Sims Parkway, Niceville, FL 32578. Or you may fax your credit card order to 729-3225 or email it to baybeacon@aol.com. For more information, call The Bay Beacon at (850) 678-1080. Subscribe Now !News News News All Around The Town A-2 Sports A-6 Gardening A-7 Church Directory A-10 Classifieds A-11INSIDE Please see WATER page A-3 Please see CHAMBER, page A -2 Beacon photo by Del Lessard Newlyweds Joe and Maliaka Hefling pose for pictures imm ediately following their marriage ceremony at the Shalimar courthouse Monday.Attack spurs marriage boomBy Del Lessard Beacon Staff WriterAt 8:15 a.m. Monday, Hurlburt Field airman Joe Hefling and his fiancee, Maliaka Schneider, were seated in the vestibule of the Okaloosa County Clerk of Courts office in Shalimar chatting nervously with friends. Fifteen minutes later Joe, 23, and Maliaka, 20, were man and wife, married in a civil ceremony hastily scheduled because Hefling expects to be deployed soon in Americas new global war on terrorism. Marriages of U.S. military members have surged in the wake of the Sept. 11 terror attack. In the eight business days immediately following the attack, the Shalimar clerks office issued 124 marriage licenses, according to Deputy Clerk of Court Amand a Zorij. Thats two-thirds of the number issued during the entire The chambers executive director, Tricia Brunson, said the proposed Niceville location would not only be cheaper to build on, but also would be more central to the chambers service area. The chamber in January 2000 launched a drive to raise $400,000 for a new, larger headquarters at the current wa terfront site at 170 N. John Sims Parkway in Valparaiso, just south of the NicevilleValparaiso city limit. The fund drive has fallen short of expectations, however, and the chambers request for $150,000 in state money for the building was vetoed earlier this year by Gov. Jeb. Bush. Renovation plans called for the existing building to be demolished or removed and, presumably, sold. The proposed building project also prompted the chamber and Valparaiso to renegotiate their 99-year land lease originally signed in 1969,Chamber seeks move to NicevilleBy Teresa Arlund Beacon Staff WriterThe Niceville-ValparaisoBay Area Chamber of Commerce is seeking to move to Niceville from Valparaiso. The Okaloosa County Commission yesterday approved donating a county tract to the city of Niceville, wh ich in turn would lease to the chamber of commerce. I think its a good location and it gives them some room to grow, said Niceville City Manager Lannie Corbin, who obtained the approval at a county commission meeting in Fort Walton Beach. The commissioners unanimously approved the donation without comment, Corbin said. The chamber hopes to build a new office at the site, approximately one acre at John Sims Parkway and Hospital Street between the Twin Cities Pavilion and the Palm Plaza shopping center. Please see MARRIAGE, page A-3 Security at fuel terminal, Coast Guard callups. A-14.Line of defenseParked bumper to bum per as a defense against possible terrorist attack, empty military trucks lined Highway 85 this week, just south of the Oka loosa Regional Airport. E glin Air Force Base spokeswoman Lois Walsh said the trucks, parked at the end of o ne of the bas es runways, were arranged Friday as a new line of defense. Security at area military installations remained hig h this we ek. Beacon photo by Sara Kent B e a c o n 18 Pages, 1 Section, 2 Inserts Wednesday, October 17, 200150baybeacon@aol.com Hometown news for Niceville, Valparaiso and Bluewater Bay. (850) 678-1080E X P R E S S Mullet Festival Pages A-2 & A-3 Church Directory A-14 Classifieds A-15 All Around The Town A-18INSIDE The Entire Weeks News, Events, and Schools Coverage Published Every Saturday Just fill out this coupon and get it to our office, with payment, by 4 p.m. Thursday, and we'll start 52 weeks of Saturday's Bay Beacon this Saturday .Of course you read the Beacon Express every Wednesday. But your week isnt complete without reading Saturdays Bay Beacon which is available only by subscription or newsstand sale. Payment............................One full year (52 weeks) for $24.95 Payment............................One full year (52 weeks) for $24.95 Saturday, Decem ber 23, 20 0050 Vol. 18, No. 26 8 Pages, 1 Section(850) 678-10 80 baybeacon@ aol.comView p o in t A 5 Sp or ts A -6 C las si fied s A 7Last M inute G ift I deas A-8 INSIDE The hometo wn newspaper for N iceville, V alpar aiso and B luewater B ay.The Bay B e a co n p ho to by De l Les sa rdEven angels get cold earsB r a vin g s ub f r ee z in g w ea th e r W ed n e s d ay n ig ht, m em b e rs of th e V a l para is o As se m bly o f G o d p r es en ted a n o u td o or C h ris t m as N ativ i ty s cen e in clu d ing s ev e r al fa r m a n im a ls p le nt y of s h ep h e rds a n d k in g s, p l u s h o t c ho c ola te a n d l um i n a rie s H e nr ie tt a C a r ran o le ft, po r tra y ed M ar y an d K r is te n Lo ss ing e r a n a ng e l in e a r m uffs.Niceville Delchamps to become Food WorldAcquisition by Winn-Dixie is blocked by FTCB run o s Su pe rmark ets In c an A la bam a -b ased c om p an y that is the pa r ent o f F oo d World sto res, said this w e ek it h ad ag reed t o b uy the D e l c h a m p s s u p e r m a r k e t in N ic e ville. Th e de al w a s rea che d a fter a pr ev iousl y a n no un c ed p l an to sell th e D e l c ha mp s st o r e to Wi n nD ix ie St ores Inc ran into fede ral antitru s t o bjec tio ns. Th e Nice v ille sto re, w hich is sc hed ule d to c hang e ha nd s in e arly J a nuar y w ill op era te un der t he F o od Wor ld na me Bruno s s aid O n M o n da y B ru n o s o f B irm ing ha m, A la ., sa id it w ould pu rc h a se 19 sup erma rk e ts f ro m J itne y J ung le Stores of A m eric a In c ., an d its su bsidia ry D el cham ps Inc. Th e pu rchas e i n clu d e s 12 g roc e ry s to r e s i n A l a b a m a o ne in M iss issip pi, and six in Florida a s w el l as f i ve liquo r sto res and tw o gas s tations. T he D elc ham ps s up erm ar P l e a se se e F O O D, p ag e A 8Road cons truction set at so uth end of bridgeMo re ro ad co nstruction is c oming to the B a y are a, a s the M id-B ay Bridge A u thority (M B B A ), Flor ida D e p a rtm e nt o f T r an sp or ta ti o n ( D O T), an d other age ncie s c om bine resou r ce s to w iden St ate Rou te 2 93 be tw e en the so uth end o f the M idB a y Br i dge a n d H ig h w a y 9 8 De s tin, sta rting in M ay 20 01 D u rin g Th ursda y s m eet ing of th e M id -B a y B ridge Au tho rity M B B A me mbers d i sc uss ed the project w ith e ngineers a nd other o f fic ia ls. Four-lan ing the tw o -lane highway is e x pecte d to co st abo u t $6 m illion. A b o u t $ 2 .5 m illion o f this w ill com e from th e D O T i n the fo rm of m at chi n g gr ant s, w hile O kal oosa Co u n ty w ill p ro vide in-kind services su ch a s en gine ering advic e a nd adm in istrati v e supp o rt, as we ll as fu nne l som e im p ac t fee s fro m b u sine sses and lan d de v elope rs who w ill ben ef it fr om t he imp r o ved ro a d. Th e City o f D e st in m ay also contribut e, b ut h a s no t m a de a f inal d ec ision. T he r est o f the fun d ing w ill c o me f rom the M B B A sai d a uth ority Ex ecuti ve D ire ctor Jim Ve s t. T he m ain b e ne f it fro m the pr o je c t w ill be to r elie ve tr a f f ic co nge s tio n an d impro ve sa fety nea r the S R 2 9 3 / H i g h w a y 9 8 i nt e r s e c t i o n b y providing an e xtra lane near the entr an ces to th e Walgreen s sto re an d o the r nea r by b u siness es sa id projec t m a nag e r S. S c ott Early w ith t h e P e n s a c ola f i r m o f H D R Eng inee ring I nc. Early sa i d the pro je ct w ill a lso prov id e e xtra lanes an d a med ia n ne ar D e s tin M idd le Schoo l. Th a t w ill m ak e it sa fe r fo r school b us e s to m ak e t he tur n in a nd out o f the s c hool pa rk in g lo t, he sa i d. Ea rly also sa id hi s f ir m w ill pursu e a v ery ag gress i v e w o rk sc h edule and tha t c o mp let ion o f th e ro ad widening is exp e c te d by M a y 2 0 0 2. In a ddition to w idening the road a n d insta lling m e d i a n s t h e p r oj e c t w ill a l so inc lude traf f ic sig na ls for v eh icl e s and ped estrians sid e wa lks, c urbs, and a c los e d d rainage sy s te m In ot her b us ine ss at Th ursda y s M BB A m e e tin g, f igu res w e re p re sen te d on t ra f f ic a nd re venu e To ll reve nu e f or t he 1 9 99 -2 00 0 f is c a l ye a r w as running ab out 10 p e rcent a bo ve the p r e v ious yea r thr ough J uly b u t dr opp ed w hen the b ridgeBy M i ke G riffi th B e acon Co rr esponde ntBy De l L es s a rd Beacon S ta ff W riter P le a se se e R O AD p ag e A -83-story hotel planned near bayou spanA plan to b u ild a thre e-s tory hotel j ust e ast o f th e Ro c k y Ba yo u B rid ge h a s cle are d a hurdle. On T h u r sd a y t h e p r o p o s e d h otel s de veloper w o n prelim inary a p pr o va l fr o m O k a l o o s a C o u n t y planne rs w h o re vie w ed pla ns for th e prop ose d 5 6-room h ote l. The p roject is p lan ne d by L au ren Cor po ratio n on just o v e r an ac re so u th o f H igh w a y 2 0 The property to b e d e velo ped by N ic e v ille de velo p er L ar ry Wr ig ht, is n o t on the w a ter, b u t is ab o ut 300 feet e as t of R o c k y Ba y ou The tract w h ich is z on ed B usi ness R e tail D istric t, is adjacent to, but separated by a wood en p ri v ac y fen ce fr om, a residentia l a re a o n Ev ans C ourt. Pa t B la ck s he a r O k a l o o s a Cou n ty s p lanne r to ld th e B e aco n Thu rsd ay th a t W ri gh t ha d m et the m a jo r r equ ir e m e nt l e v ie d b y t h e c o u nt y s T e c h n ica l R e v i e w C o m m itte e: ge tting e ase me nts f romBy Del Les sa rd Bea con S t aff W riterThis years weird toyDissecting an alienEach C hristm as season, certain to ys seem to becom e th e year s hot item s, such as Pok em on, Tickle Me Elmo, B eanie Babies, or scooters. Ev ery so o ften, however, another kind of to y appearsto ys that are a little s trange, w ith a dark side. T o ys that might look better under a H allo w een pum pkin than un der a Christmas tree. Tw isted to ys. This y ear s tw iste d to y is called A lien A utopsy m ark eted b y Tre nd masters In c., and ba sed on the popular D e xters Laboratory cartoon sho w, w hich features a mad little scientist who c rea te s m on st e rs a n d death rays in his basement la b A imed a t children age 6 and up, acco rding to the b ox lab e li ng A lien Au topsy contains a plastic ali en c rea t u r e, a n d kids are supp osed to perform an autopsy on it. W h i le e x am i n in g th e e x trater re strial c a da ve r, kids can m ak e candy and soft drink s from tools an d ingredients included in the box. T hese inclu de a scum spoon, an d sup plies of gu mm y brain juice, yum my f izzy e ye rot, and e ven more repellent bodily secreti on s. Labeling o n the box encourages kids to Bite its brain! and Eat ick y e ye fizz! as th e y dissect their unfortu nate little alien. It is not clea r just what children a ged 6 and up are s upp osed to learn fro m Alien Autopsy or what ef fect playing with su ch a to y might ha ve o n their p syches. Per haps the same ef fect kids get from telling each other gross-out jok es in th e schoo l cafeteria w here the ultimate success is getting the other kid to laugh hard enough to mak e milk com e o ut his n ose. The B eacon attemp ted to co ntact Trendmasters by phone and e-m ail, b ut the pub lic relatio ns spok esperson was una vaila ble at th is tim e. By Mik e G riffith B e acon C or respond ent P l e a se see T O Y p ag e A-8Beacon B eac on p ho to by De l L e ss a rdWarming up to winterB i ll S h aw left, o f N ic ev ille a n d F re d C a rte r S h al im a r, w a r m u p o v e r a fir e b a rre l at a C hr is tm as t r ee sale s lo t a t Jo h n S im s P ar k w a y an d Pa r t i n D ri v e Fre ez i n g tem pe ra ture s a nd b risk w ind s us h er ed i n t h e o f fic i a l star t o f w in ter Th u rsd a y. Holiday schedulesC hris t ma s Da y M o nd ay D e cem b er 25 Go vern ment N ic e vi lle cit y o f f ic es ..... .. ................ .... C lo se d Va lpa r ai s o c ity o f fices .. .... ..... ... ... ....... Clos ed (Dec 26 -2 9 clo s e a t n o on ) S ta te o f fic e s .... .. ......... .. ..... ............. ....C losed F e dera l of fi ce s .... ... ... ................ .. .......C lo s ed E glin o f fices .................. ....... ......... .... .C lo sed O kalo os a p ublic s ch ools ............. .. ....C los e d t o J an. 5 O WCC ... ................ ...... .. ......... ... ........C l osed N ice v i lle Childre n s Pa rk ... .. .... ..........C lo sed U .S Po s ta l S e r vice ....... .. ....... ..........N o de li ve ry B anks ...... ....... ........... .. ..... ..... ........ .. .. C lo s e d B e ac on N ewsp ap ers .. .. .. ....... .. .. ... .....C los e dGarbage pickups C it y o f N ic eville .... ......... .. ..... ........... ..N o pi ckup s C ity o f V a lpar ais o .. ........ ..... ...............N o p ic k up s (w ill s e rve M on c usto m e rs o n Tu es.) Va de n S a nita t io n ... .... ..... ... ... .. ..... .....N o p ic kups G ulf C o a s t W as te (B FI) ... ........... .. .....N o pic k up s Wa ste M a na ge m ent ......... ....... .... ......N o p ic k u ps B ea c on p h o to b y D e l L e s sa rd E n tr a n ce t o s it e o f p lanne d ho te l eas t of R o ck y B a y ou b ridg e P l ea s e se e H O T E L, p a g e A2Rash of break-ins blamed on suspectL aw en fo rcem en t of f icers from three jurisdictions say the y hav e solv ed at least 10 recent b urglaries following arrest of a Choctaw Beach man by Nice ville police. Investigators got their f irst break when M i chael James Nelson Preuss, 26, of 235 Li ve Oak St., Choctaw B ea ch w as arrested b y Nice ville police Nov. 21 for pro wling and l oitering and possession of b urglary tools after a patro l officer saw Preuss ne xt to a vehicle in a used car lot at 2 a.m. On No v. 22 Nice ville police and an inv estigator from the Okaloosa County S herif f s Office went to the Chocta w Beach residence Preuss shared with a woman and got her consent to search for suspected stolen items, according to police reports. The w om an also led police to a v acant tr aile r on County L ine Road, where, she told la wmen, she and Preuss had stored se v eral items she b el ie ved stolen, according to the reports. Based on stolen items police reco vered from the trailer Niceville police arrested Preuss Dec. 1, on one count each of burglary and grand theft forBy D el Les s ard B e a con S ta ff Writer P le a s e s ee R AS H, p ag e A -2 Allow up to 1 week for processing of new orders. *Offer good in Niceville, Valparaiso, Freeport, and Eglin Zip Codes only. Elsewhere higher rates apply. Call (850) 678-1080. Freeport and Eglin Zips do not receive same-day delivery.Name : Phone: Address* : Check One: Niceville Valparaiso Eglin FreeportThe Bay Beacon covers Niceville, Valparaiso, and Bluewater Bay. V isa MasterCard Please check form of payment below : Check or Money Order / CARD EXPIRATIONDATESIGNATURE OFCARDHOLDER DATE VISAOR MASTERCARD NUMBERS FULL WEEKS i nSATURDAYS PAPER! FULL WEEKS i nSATURDAYS PAPER!Please send coupon and payment to: The Bay Beacon, 1181 E. John Sims Parkway, Niceville, FL 32578. Or you may fax you r credit card order to 72 9-3225 o r email it to baybea con@aol.co m. For more informa tion, call Th e Bay Beaco n at (850) 678-1080. Subscribe Now !News News News Mullet Festival set this weekendBy Del Lessard Beacon Staff WriterThe 25th annual Boggy Bayou Mullet Festival will entertain thousands this weekend. The three-day event will feature plenty of food to tickle your palate, dozens of wonderful arts and crafts vendors to tempt the eye, hours of top musical talent to thrill the soul, and attractions for children. The event draws tens of thousands of people from all over the Southeast. From Friday through Sunday the Mullet Festival will provide outstanding entertainment value with a crowdpleasing mix of musical entertainment, from nationally known country acts like Diamond Rio and Trick Pony, to rock hits from the Little River Band, plus everything from doo-wop to country-rock. The festival will take place on the Mullet Site in Niceville, at Highway 85 North and Please see MULLET page A-3 Please see GIRL, page A-6 Please see MAIL, page A-6 attacks using anthrax germs. All but one of the reports in Okaloosa County were deemed to be unfounded. One incident remains under investigation, but authorities expressed the belief that it, too, would ultimately prove to be a false alarm. Okaloosa Countys Emergency Services Departm ent, Health Department, Sheriffs Office and Fire Chiefs Association compiled a list ofOkaloosa issues guidelines on suspicious mailRecent surge in unfounded suspicions of bio-terror taxes county emergency workersBy Del Lessard Beacon Staff WriterAfter responding to more than two dozen reports of suspected anthrax exposure since Friday, Okaloosa County emergency officials have issued guidelines to help citizens deal with suspicious mail in the wake of nationwide concern over possible terror Governor Bush that county commissioners indicted on felony charges be suspended from office, according to the governors Press Secretary Elizabeth Hirst. Shirley Ransom, chairman of the Okaloosa County Commission, said she expectsGov. seeks replacement for suspended officialBy Del Lessard Beacon Staff WriterGov. Jeb Bushs office said it is soliciting applications to fill a vacancy on the Okaloosa County Commission caused by the governors suspension Monday of Commissioner Douglas A. Hutcheson, who has been indicted for filing a false voter-registration form. The suspension leaves the county with four county commissioners until the governor appoints a replacement. It is a standing policy of concrete pad with her head and knees. North Bay firefighters and county EMS personnel responded to the scene and immobilized the little girl before she was transported by a Baptist Life Flight helicopter ambulance to Sacred Heart Childrens Hospital in Pensacola. Elizabeth came home from the hospital with a neck brace Oct. 8, said Karen Berry, and is expected to make full recovery with no permanent physical or neurological damage. The little girl suffered a broken neck and broken skull inGirl recovers from broken neckParents express their thanks to rescue workersBy Del Lessard Beacon Staff WriterWith their youngest daughter expected to make a full recovery from a two-story fall out of the window of their Bluewater Bay home, Bill and Karen Berry thank God and the many rescue and hospital specialists who cared for their daughter. On Oct. 4, about 1 p.m., 6year-old Elizabeth Berry fell 14 feet from an open window at the familys new home and struck a the fall. A normally active little girl, Elizabeths main request at the hospital was to get the neck brace off, her mother said. Friday, the doctor switched Elizabeth to a more comfortable brace that shell wear for a month more, although she can take it off when resting. We are so thankful for Gods mercy and grace to Elizabeth and to us in preserving her life, Karen said. We also would like to thank Niceville school celebrates 75 yearsBy Teresa Arlund Beacon Staff WriterIf walls could talk. The brick and mortar known today as Lula J. Edge Elementary School has borne silent witness to generation after generation of Twin Cities children. Lannie Corbins parents met there. Dana Padgett broke a car window there. Randy Wise spied a rattlesnake in the hallway there. Tomorrow, alumni and friends will gather on the lawn at 300 N. Highway 85amid the towering trees planted by teacher Louis Rich and his fourth grade class almost 50 years agoto visit and remember as Lula J. Edge Elementary celebrates 75 years as a Niceville-Valparaiso Please see NICEVILLE, page A-4Beacon photo by T eresa Arlund Edge Elementary teach er Vicki B urger displays Niceville Mayor Randall W ise letter sweater fro m his years a t the Niceville school. Please see SEEKS, page A-17 Pharmacies stock anthrax drug-A-5.Elizabeth Berry, 6, is glad to b e back at home in Bluewate r Bay with her parents Karen and B ill. Elizabeth was hospitalized at Sa cred Heart Childrens Hospital for a bro ken neck and bro ken skull sustained w hen she fell out o f the homes second story window Oct. 4. B ea co n photo b y T eresa Ar lu nd A giant w ooden represe ntation of a mullet, guest of honor at the im pending 25th annual B oggy Bayo u Mullet Festival, w as put in place Monday. B ea co n photo b y D e l L essard Doug H utcheson Election set for TuesdayBy Del Lessard Beacon Staff WriterIn addition to deciding a controversial sales tax issue next Tuesday, Oct. 16, Okaloosa County voters will also choose their next congressional representative. Voters will see the names of three candidates on the ballot, Republican Jeff Miller, Democrat Steve Briese and independent (no party) candid ate John Ralls. Two write-in candidates ha ve also qualified for the race, Floyd Miller and Tom Wellsvoters will have to remember those names since they dont appear on the ballot. Residents in U.S. Congressional District 1which includes portions of Bay, Escambia, Holmes, O kaloosa, Santa Rosa and W alton countieshave been without representation in Congress since Sept. 6. Thats when former Congressman Joe Scarborough, R. Pensacola, resigned his seat only a few months into his fourth term. Scarborough announced his decision to resign May 25, leaving potential candidates scrambling to qualify in the hastily-called qualifying period June 11 and 12. Miller and Briese both won a majority of votes in their respective party primary elections July 24, negating the need for a Sept. 4 run-off. Okaloosa County polls will be open next Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. B e a c o n 16 Pages, 1 Section, 4 Inserts Wednesday, October 10, 200150baybeacon@aol.com Hometown news for Niceville, Valparaiso and Bluewater Bay. (850) 678-1080E X P R E S S Gardening A-6 Sports A-8 Church Directory A-12 Classifieds A-13 All Around The Town A-16INSIDE The Entire Weeks News, Events, and Schools Coverage Published Every Saturday Just fill out this coupon and get it to our office, with payment, by 4 p.m. Thursday, and we'll start 52 weeks of Saturday's Bay Beacon this Saturday .Of course you read the Beacon Express every Wednesday. But your week isnt complete without reading Saturdays Bay Beacon which is available only by subscription or newsstand sale. Payment............................One full year (52 weeks) for $24.95 Payment............................One full year (52 weeks) for $24.95 S aturday December 23, 20 0050 Vol. 18, No 26 8 Pages, 1 Section(850) 678-10 80 baybeacon@aol.comV iewp oint A-5 Sports A-6 Class ified s A-7Last Minute G ift I deas A-8 INSIDE The hom eto wn news paper f or N icev ille V alpar aiso an d B lu ewater B ay .The Bay B e ac o n p hot o by De l Le s s ar dEven angels get cold earsB rav ing su bfr ee z i ng w ea t he r W e dn e sday n ight m em b e rs o f t h e V al par ai s o Asse m bl y of G o d p re s en t ed an ou t do o r C h r is t m a s N at i vi ty sc en e in c l u ding s eve r al fa rm a ni m a l s, pl e nt y of sh ep he rds an d kin g s, pl u s h ot ch o co l at e a n d l um i n ar ie s H e nr iett a C arr an o, l ef t p o rt r ay e d M ary a nd K r ist en Los si n ge r a n a n ge l i n e a r m uf f s.Niceville Delchamps to become Food WorldAcquisition by Winn-Dixie is blocked by FTCB runo s Supermark et s I nc., an Ala ba m a-based company that i s the pare nt of F oo d W orld stores, s aid t hi s we e k it had agreed to b uy th e De lcham ps supermark et in N ic e ville. The d ea l w as reached after a pre vio us ly announced plan to s ell th e De lchamps s to re to Winn -Dix i e Stores In c. ran into f ede ra l an titrust objections. T h e Nicevil le s tor e, which is schedule d to change hand s i n ear ly Jan uary, will o perate under t he F ood Wo r ld n am e, Brunos said. On Mo nd ay B r u no s, of B irmi ngh am, Ala. said it would purcha se 19 supermarkets from Jitne yJungle Sto res o f Ame ric a Inc., and its su b sid iary D elc hamps Inc. Th e pu rch ase includes 12 g roc ery stor es i n A labama, o ne in Mis sissippi, an d si x in Florid a a s we ll as f i ve liq u or stores and tw o ga s s ta tio n s. The Delc hamps super m arP le ase se e FO O D, p ag e A -8Road construction set at south end of bridgeMore road constr u c tion is co m ing to the Bay area, as the Mid-Bay Brid g e Au thority (MBBA ), Florid a D e p art men t o f Tra nspor tation (D OT ), a nd o ther agenc ies co m bin e resources to widen State R oute 293 b e tween the so uth end of the MidB ay Br idge and Highw ay 9 8, Destin, s tarting in M ay 2001. D uring Thursday s meeting of t h e Mid-Bay Bridg e A uth ority, MBBA members discussed the project wi th engine ers and other of ficia ls. Fou r l ani ng th e t w o-lane h i ghway i s expe cted to co st about $ 6 million. About $2 .5 mi llion of this will come from the DO T in th e form o f matching grants, wh ile Okaloosa County will pro vide in-kind serv ices such as engineering advice and a d min istrative sup port, as well as fu nn el some impact f ee s from busines ses and la n d d e v elo p e rs who will benefit from the imp r o v e d road. The Ci ty of Destin may al so contr ibute, b ut has not m a d e a f inal decision The rest of the fun din g will come from the M BBA, said a uthority Ex ec utive Director J im Vest T h e main benefit fr om the project w i ll be to relie v e traff ic c o ng est ion a nd improve safety n ea r th e SR2 93 / H ig h w ay 9 8 i n t e rs ect i o n by pr ovid in g a n e xt ra la ne n e ar the entrances to the Walgre ens store a nd o ther nearby busines ses said project manager S. Scott Early with the Pens acola f irm of H DR E ngineering In c. Ea rly s a id the projec t w ill a lso pro vid e e xtr a l anes and a m edian near D e stin Mid dle School. That will mak e it sa fer for sch o ol b u ses to make the turn in and out o f the sc hool pa rk ing lo t, he said. E a rly also said his firm will p u rsu e a v ery aggre s sive w ork s c hedu l e, and th a t completion of the ro ad widen ing i s expecte d by May 20 02 In addition to widenin g the road an d insta lling m edians the p ro j e ct wi ll a ls o inc lu de traffic s ig nals for v ehi cles and pedestrians, sid e walks, curbs, and a closed drainage s ystem. In ot her b usin es s at Thurs d ays M B B A meeting, figures were presented on traffic and revenue. T oll r evenu e for th e 1 999-2 000 f i s c al year w as running abo ut 1 0 perc ent above the pr e vious year through July b u t d rop ped w hen th e bridgeBy M ike Gr i ff it h B e a co n Co rr e sp on d entB y D e l L es s a r d Be ac on S ta ff W ri te r Pl e a s e se e R O A D p a g e A-83-story hotel planned nea r bayou spanA pl a n to b ui ld a th re e-sto r y hotel just east o f the Rock y Bayo u Bridge has cle ared a hu rdle On Thurs day th e pro po s ed hot e l s d e veloper w on preliminar y app ro val f ro m Okal o os a Count y planners who reviewed p lan s for the p roposed 56 -room hotel. The projec t is pla nn ed by L aure n Co rporation o n just ov er an ac re south o f Hi g hw ay 20 Th e pro pe rty to be dev eloped by Niceville develo per Larr y Wrig ht, is n o t o n the water, but is about 300 feet e as t of R o c k y Bayou. The tra c t, which is zo n e d Busi ness Re t ail District, is ad j acent to b ut sep ar at ed by a wooden pri vac y fence from a residential are a on Ev an s Court. Pat Blac k shear Ok aloo sa Coun ty s planner told the Be acon Th ursd ay th at W rig ht had met the ma jor req ui re me nt le vied by t he cou nt y s Techni cal Re vi ew Co mmittee: g ettin g e ase ments fromB y D e l L es sa r d B ea co n S t aff Wr ite rThis year s weird toyDissecting a n alienEa ch C hr istmas seas o n, ce rtain to ys s ee m to be co m e the ye ar s h o t i tems, suc h as Po k emon, Ti ck le Me El m o, Bean ie B ab ie s, or sc oo ters. E v ery s o o ften ho we ve r, an o ther k ind of to y ap pear sto ys th at are a little strange w ith a d a rk sid e. Toys t ha t m i g h t l o ok b ette r u n d er a Hall o w ee n p u mp kin tha n u nd er a Chr istma s tree. T w isted to ys This y ea r s twisted to y is ca lled Alien A utopsy mark ete d by T r endmast ers Inc., and based on the pop ular D e xt e rs La b ora to ry c a rtoon s h o w, w hic h featur es a m ad litt le scien tist wh o cr eat es monste rs a nd d eath rays in hi s ba se m ent la b Aimed at ch il d ren ag e 6 a nd u p, acc ordi ng to the box labeling, A lien A uto p sy cont ain s a plastic ali en cr eatu re, a n d k i d s a re supp o se d to p erform an autopsy on it. While e xa mining the e xtra-terres tri al ca da ver, ki d s c a n m ak e c andy an d s of t drink s from to ols an d ing redi ents in clu ded in the b o x These i n c lude a scu m spoo n an d su p pl ies o f g um my brain juice, yummy f izzy e y e rot an d even mo re re pel l e nt b odil y s ecretio ns. Lab eling on th e bo x enc o ura g es kids to B ite its b rain! and Eat ick y ey e fizz as the y diss ec t th e ir u nf or t u nat e little ali en It is n o t clear jus t wh at child r e n ag ed 6 an d u p are su pp o sed to l earn fro m A lien Autop sy o r wh a t ef fec t pl ayin g with su c h a to y m ig ht h a ve on t he ir psy ch es. Perh aps th e same e f fect k ids g et f ro m telling ea ch o th er g ro ssout jo k e s in the sc h ool ca feteria wh ere the u ltima te suc ce ss is g etting th e o the r ki d to la u g h h ard eno ug h to mak e m ilk c ome o ut hi s n o se The B ea con attem p ted to c on tac t Tren d maste rs by p ho ne a nd e-mai l, b u t th e pu bl ic rela tions sp ok e sper son was una va ila ble at th i s t i m e. By Mi k e Gr if fi th B eacon Cor r esp o nden t P l ease s ee T O Y pag e A-8Beacon B ea c o n p hot o by D el L es s a rdWarming up to winterB i l l S haw l ef t o f N i cevi l l e, a n d Fre d C ar t er S h a l im a r, w a rm u p ov er a f i re b ar rel at a C hr is t m a s t r ee sal es l o t a t Jo hn S im s P a rk w ay and P a rt i n D ri v e F reez i ng t em pe ra t ure s a nd bri sk w in ds u sh ered in th e o f fi c ial st art o f wi n t e r T hu rsd ay. H oliday schedulesCh ristma s Da y M on day December 25 Governm ent N ic e ville city of fice s ....... ...... ... ... .. ...... C lo sed Va lp ara is o c ity o f fic e s ............ ...... ... ...C los ed ( D ec 2 6-2 9 c lo s e a t no o n ) S ta te o f fice s .. ...... ............ ......... ... .. .....C l o se d F e de ra l o f fic e s .. .. .... ............ ... ...... ......C los e d E g l in o f fi ce s .. ......... ... ...... ....... .. ... .......C lo s e d O ka lo o s a p u blic sc h oo ls ..... ..... ........C lo se d to J a n. 5 O WC C ... ....... ... .. ................ ... .. ...........C lo se d N ic ev il le C h ildr e n s P ark ... ................C lo s e d U .S P o s ta l S e rv ice ....................... ... .N o d e live ry B a nk s .... ............. .... ... ... .. ........ .... ...... C los e d B ea c o n N e w sp a p e rs ..... ......... ....... ....C lo se dGarbage pick ups C ity of Nic e ville ...... ...... .......... .... ...... .N o p i cku p s C i ty o f V a lp a r ais o ............. ... ....... .......N o p ic ku p s (w il l s e rv e M o n. cu s to m e rs o n T ue s.) Vad e n S an i ta tio n .... .. ... ......... ............ .N o p ic ku ps G u l f C o a st W a ste (B F I ) .............. .. ....N o p ick u ps Was te M a n ag e m e n t .................. ...... .N o p icku p s B ea c o n ph ot o b y D el Le ss a r d En tr a nc e t o s ite o f pla n n ed h o t el e ast of R oc ky B a yo u b ri dg e. P l ea se se e H O T E L, p ag e A 2Rash of break-ins blamed on suspectL a w enforcement o f ficer s fr om th ree ju r i sdi ct io ns say t he y h a v e s ol v ed at l east 10 r ecent b u rglar i es f ol l o wi ng arr est of a Chocta w B e ac h man by Nic e vi l le po l ic e In v esti ga tor s g ot t heir f i rst br ea k whe n Mi chael James Nelso n P re uss 2 6, of 23 5 L i v e Oak St ., Cho cta w Beach, w as arrested by Nice v ille pol ice No v 2 1 f or p ro wl i ng and lo i te rin g an d possession o f b u rgla ry t ool s after a p atr ol of fic er sa w Pr euss n e xt t o a vehi cl e in a u se d c ar lot at 2 a.m. O n No v. 22 Ni ce vi l le pol ic e an d a n inves ti gat or f r o m t he Okal oo sa Cou nt y Sh er if fs Of fi ce we nt t o t h e Ch oct a w Beach r esi de n ce P r euss s h ar ed wit h a wom an a nd g ot h er c on sent t o sea rch f or s u spect ed s to len i t em s a ccord in g t o p oli ce repo r t s. T h e w o ma n also le d po l ice to a v acant t ra i le r on Coun ty Li n e Road whe re sh e t ol d la w m en, sh e and P r euss had sto red s e v era l i te ms she beli e ve d sto len, a cco rd i ng to t he repo rt s. Based on s to len i tems pol ice r eco vere d fr om th e tr ail er Ni ce vi ll e po li c e arr e s te d Pr euss Dec 1 on one coun t e ach of b u r gl ar y an d grand t he ft forB y D el L e s sar d B e acon Sta ff W r iter P l ea se see R A S H pa ge A 2 Allow up to 1 w eek for process ing of new orders. *Offer good in Niceville, Valparaiso, Freepor t, and Eglin Zip Codes only. Elsewhere high er rates apply. Cal l (850) 678-1080. Free port and Eglin Z ips do not receive same-day delivery.Name: Phone: Address*: Check One: Niceville Valparaiso Eglin FreeportThe Bay Beacon covers Niceville, Valparaiso, and Bluewater Bay. V isa MasterCard Please check form of payment below: Check or Money Order / CARD EXPIRATIONDATESIGNATURE OFCARDHOLDER DATE VISAOR MASTERCARD NUMBERS FULL WEEKS i nSATURDAYS PAPER! FULL WEEKS i nSATURDAYS PAPER!Please send coupon and payment to: The Bay Beacon, 1181 E. John Sims Parkway, Niceville, FL 32578. Or you may fax your credit card order to 729-3225 or email it to baybeacon@aol.com. For more information, call The Bay Beac on at (850) 678-1080. Subscribe Now !News News News units like those now dropping food and medicine to starving Afghan refugees. If he were in charge of the current operation, Haug en said, I would do precisely what the President is do ing now. Were hitting precise targets, away from civilians, he said, while also dropping food and medicine to the oppressed victims of the T aliban regime; an approach that Haugen considers just right for the cur-Ex-commanders assess air strikesBy Mike Griffith Beacon CorrespondentAir operations against the al Qaeda terrorist organization and the Taliban ru lers of Afghanistan are going about as well as can be expec ted, say some retired senior Air Force officers. Things are going well without me, said retired Brigadier General Donald Haugen, a current Niceville resident who used to command militar y airlift The increased security posture, which requires 100 percent identification checks at the base gates and inspection of some vehicles, will remain in effect until further notice, according to Eglin spokesman Tech. Sgt. David Donato. The security measures are being taken as a precaution against possible terrorist threats, although there are no specific threats against Eglin, Donato said. Base visitors can anticipateTerrorist threat spurs increase in local securityBy Del Lessard Beacon Staff WriterEglin Air Force Base and Duke Field again raised their security posture to Force Protection Charlie after U.S. and British military forces initiated the first wave of air strikes inside Afghanistan Sunday. Meanwhile, civilian authorities in the local area have stepped up security measures around airports and near infrastructure such as water and electricity supplies, and are on the lookout for suspicious activity. By Del Lessard Beacon Staff Write rOn Sunday Americans learned that U.S. and British military forces had begun the first wave of air strikes inside Afghanistan against Taliban military targets and terrorist training camps associated with Osama bin Laden and the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon that killed more than 5,000 people. Community leaders surveyed by Niceville grad makes headlines1987 NHS graduate Cris Judd and bride Jennifer Lopez appear on the cover of the Oct. 15 issue of People magazine. Dancer-choreographer Judd, 32, married actress-singer Lopez, 32, on Sept. 29 in Calabasas, Calif. Judd is the son of Larry and Violeta Judd, of Niceville, owners of Eggrolls R Us at 113 Partin Drive. Please see STRIKES, page A-3 Please see THREAT page A-2 Please see LEADERS, page A-2 DOD photo by Senior Airman Rebeca M. Luquin, USAFAir campaign against terror beginsA U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer bomber takes off on a strike mission against al Qaeda terrorist training camps and military instal lations of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan on Oct. 7, 2001, during Operation Enduring Freedom. The carefully targeted actions are designed to disrupt the use of Afghanistan as a base for terrorist operations and to attack the military capability of the Taliban regime. The Pentagon has said that B-52 and B -1 bombers have been launched against Afghan targets from the British base at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.Leaders voice their support Beacon photo by Del Lessard Off-duty Valparaiso police officers kept a close eye on this Gulf Power substation Tuesday morning. The FBI warned law enforcement agencies nationwide to be at the highest level of vigilance and to be prepared to respond to any act of terrorism or violence. the Beacon Mo nday expressed wholehearted support for the presidents cam paign against terrorism. While several people expressed satisfaction that the U.S. has finally reacted with force, many said patience would be helpful in what promises to be a long war on terror. Bin Laden d eserves it. The Taliban deserves it. Its about time that someone took them to task for all the terrorism theyve 10 Pages, 1 Section Saturday, September 22, 2001 Vol. 19, No. 38 50B e a c o n T h e B a y baybeacon@aol.com The hometown newspaper for Niceville, Valparaiso and Bluewater Bay (850) 678-1080 Presidents speech A-6 Ex-pilots reflect on intercepting airliners A-10INSIDE Classes moved off baseBy Teresa Arlund Beacon Staff WriterTightening security as U.S. military forces prepare for a global war on terrorism Eglin Air Force Base this week directed universities operating in Eglins Education Center to move classes for nondefense personnel off base immediately. Effective yesterday, all OWCC evening and weekend classes taught on Eglin Air Force Base had relocated to OWCCs Fort Walton Beach and Niceville campuses, officials said. University of West Florida and Troy State University classes have also moved off-base, said Eglin Public Affairs spokeswoman Lois Walsh. Classes taught by Embry-Riddle include Okaloosa County paramedics Jay Brosnan, Darrell Wellborn and Cindy Woodward, and several doctors and nurses, said Okaloosa County Emergency Manager Al Herndon. About 30 people went. A second team is prepared to deploy, if needed, when the first team comes back in nine to 14 days, Herndon said. The Panhandle DM AT team is the largest in Florida and the Members of Floridas Panhandle Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DM AT) and Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team (DMORT) flew to New York City W ednesday to assist with recovery efforts from the terrorist attack on the W orld Trade Center which killed an estimated 6,300. Members of this first team first DMAT team to be deployed in the state, Herndon said. The request came to the state emergency operations center and to the DM AT team via the U.S. Health and Human Services National Disaster Medical System, a volunteer network of doctors, nurses and other health and support personnel put on alert Tuesday by U.S. Secretary of Health and Hum an Services Tommy Thompson. As of Monday, prior to the Panhandle deployment, Health and Human Services h ad dispatched 238 medical professionals to New York from five Disaster Medical Assistance Teams across the country. They had also dispatched about 200 morticians, medical examiners, pathologists and other specialists from four DMORT teams. EMS is behind this 100 percent, Herndon said. We are behind the effort in a very proactive fashion. Expecting to join the second team, if it is needed, is Okaloosa County Medical Examiner Dr. Michael Berkland. The fact is the need for DMORT teams will only increase in New York in the days ahead, Berkland said. Sadly, there turned out to be fewer survivors from the W orld Trade Center catastrophe than had been hoped, Berkland said. Only a handful of people have been pulled alive from the wreckage, which many now call ground zero. Thats not much considering we were expecting over 4,000, Berkland said. In the days ahead there will be a lot of work for (medical examiners like himself) to do up there, he said. B ea co n photo by T ere s a A r lu n dRally round the flag girlsOver 50 Girl Scouts from seven Twin Cities troops inspired a lot of flag-waving spirit Tuesday, in memory of those who died or are missing in the wake of last weeks terrorist attacks. Scouts distributed 650 flags to passersby on John SIms Parkway near Palm Plaza. Girls also signed a banner t hat will be sent to Girl Scout headquarters near the destroyed World Trade Center in New York. The idea came from Brownie Girl Scout Jessica Erickson, 8, of Bluew ater Bay, who was inspired by a speech by First Lady Barbara Bush. Bush spoke of the importance of helping children work through their feelings through actio ns or writing. Flags were donated by ERA Realty of Niceville and Shalimar, and the Girl Scouts of Northwest Florida Council. Okaloosa sends rescue workers to N.Y. Fire damages house near schoolFirefighters yesterday extinguished a fire in a house at 112 Nathey St., Niceville, across the street from Edge Elementary School. Smoke was pouring from the structure and there were flames in the kitchen of the vacant home when firefighters arrived. Four engines and firefighters from Niceville, East Niceville and Valparaiso responded to the fire, which was reported at 12:31 p.m. No one was injured. The States Fire Marshalls Office was investigating. Beacon photo by D el Lessardof the death of NASCAR race driver Dale Earnhardtand has been named Vocal Group of the Year six times in the last 10 years. Corbin said festival organizers run the annual show on a tight budget and are concerned that bad weather or another unforeseeable event could cause cancellation or low attendance. That would leave the private Mullet Festival committee with more bills than it could pay, he said. There is no public funding for the festival, which is funded from entry fees, fees paid by vendors, donations and beer sales. Corbin said the price increase was not caused by the festivals decision not to sell beer on Sundays for the second year in a row. The beer-free family day, he said, is again being underwritten by a large donation from the Fort Walton Beach Medical Center. Last year the hospital gave organizers $10,000 to make up for any loss of revenue from limiting beer sa les to Friday and Saturday.Mullet festival boosts fee to $3By Del Lessard Beacon Staff WriterVisitors to the 25th annual Boggy Bayou M ullet Festival next month will have to pay $3 to get in, up $1 from last year. Organizers announced Thursday that the daily entry fee for the three-day festival of music, food and crafts is being raised to $3 for anyone 12 years of age or older. Last year the fee was $2. The festival was free until several years ago, w hen a $1 daily admission charge was imposed to offset rising costs. Mullet Festival entertainment chairman Lannie Corbin said the price increase was needed to ensure top-quality entertainment. Headliners for the 25th anniversary Boggy Bayou Mullet Festival next month (Oct. 19-21) include Diam ond Rio and Trick Pony on Saturday, The Little River Band and The Clark Family Experience on Sunday and Clay Davidson Friday night. Diamond Rio has had 19 top ten country hitsincluding One More Day which rose again on the charts in the w akeBy Del Lessard Beacon Staff WriterWhat may become a weapon in the nations new global war on terrorism was tested at Eglin Air Force Base this week. Many Americans became aware of the Tomahawk cruise missile when dramatic TV pictures showed the weapons being West Nile virus found in NicevilleBy Del Lessard Beacon Staff WriterA dead bird infected by West Nile virus, which can cause encephalitis in humans, has been found in N iceville, officials said. The Okaloosa County Health Department was informed on Sept. 19 that three dead birds (two sparrows and one dove) had been confirmed positive for W est Nile virus. The birds, collected Aug. 16, were found on Powell Circle and Pawee Circle in Fort Walton Beach and on Bayshore Drive in Niceville. On July 24 county health officials announced that a dead blue jay found near the Eglin Air Force Base housing area in June was also infected with the potentially deadly Please see RESCUE, page A-7 Please see CLASSES, page A-7 Please see VIRUS, page A-2 Please see WEAPONpage A-7 Citing security, Eglin bans hunting, A-7.By Teresa Arlund Beacon Staff WriterAir Force photo, Staff Sgt. Jill Go rdon A cruise missile, left, on a test flight is followed by an Air Force F-16 with orders to end the missiles flight if it goes off course.Anti-terror weapon testedCruise missile lands at Eglin 10 Pages, 1 Section Saturday, October 6, 2001 Vol. 19, No. 39 50B e a c o n T h e B a y baybeacon@aol.com The hometown newspaper for Niceville, Valparaiso and Bluewater Bay (850) 678-1080 Police Blotter A-2 Sports A-8 Classifieds A-9INSIDE Beacon photo by Del LessardCoast Guard on alertThe U.S. Coast Guard has been on heightened alert since the Sept. 11 terrorist attack on the U.S. This 47-foot vessel is one of three assigned to the U.S. Coast Guard station in Destin. District Coast Guard spokeswoman Joan Farris said that about 2,000 Coast Guard reservists have been called up since Sept. 14 to augment forces patrolling the coastline, including 672 assigned to units between South Padre Island in Texas and Panama City. In addition to regular search-and-rescue and law-enforcement missions, Farris said, the Coast Guard is keeping an eye on all barges, especially those carrying hazardous materials. Fuel barges coming into the Citgo terminal in Niceville, for example, now have to notify the Coast Guard 24 hours in advance of arrival.Welch, 58, of Brewton, Ala., according to an arrest report. Bebow was a passenger in the vehicle Minster was driving. Welch was driving an oncoming car that collided with Minsters. Four other peopleMinster himself, another passenger inBy Del Lessard Beacon Staff WriterA 17-year-old N iceville boy was arrested Wednesday for causing the traffic deaths of two people in a wreck that scattered 22 beer cans of iced beer from his car. Ryan William Minster, of 1277 Whitewood Way in Bluewater Bay, was arrested by the Florida Highway Patrol on two counts of vehicular homicide in the deaths May 18 of Christopher William Bebow, 17, a senior at Niceville High School, and Douglas Leon county commission and appoint an interim commissioner until the charge against him is resolved. Hutcheson, who faces a Nov. 6 court hearing to enter a plea, has maintained his innocence. Hutcheson, a 44-year-old lawyer who gave his address at the time of his arrest as 2 Bayou Drive, Fort Walton Beach, was arrested by Okaloosa County sheriffs deputies on a charge that he submitted a false address on his voter registration Feb. 22. The arrest came less than an hour after an Okaloosa County grand jury indicted him. The grand jury indictmentGov. Bush mulls suspending official in wake of arrestBy Del Lessard Beacon Staff WriterGov. Jeb. Bush is studying whether to suspend an Okaloosa County commissioner accused of providing false information in registering to vote, the governors office said Friday. Whether Bush will suspend Dist. 3 Commissioner Doug Hutcheson is under review, a governors spokesman said. The governors office said that it received papers Thursday notifying Bush that Hutcheson had been arrested on a felony charge Sept. 28. The governor could suspend Hutcheson from his seat on the area is in District 5, which also includes most of Destin. Under any of the four alternatives, the dividing line between the two districts would be Palm and Valparaiso boulevards in Niceville. The area to the east of Palm Boulevard and the north of Valparaiso Boulevard would remain in District 5 along with Seminole and Bluewater Bay, while the rest of Niceville, as well as all of Valparaiso, would become part of District 3 All four plans would transfer all of Valparaiso and large parts of western and southernRedistricting is questionedBy Teresa Arlund Beacon Staff WriterThe Okaloosa County Commission is expected to adopt a new district map later this month. The plan has drawn criticism from at least one former political candidate for splitting the Twin Cities area into two districts. Commissioners have proposed four different maps, all of which would divide the Niceville-Valparaiso area into parts of two commission districts, District 5 and District 3. Currently the entire Twin Cities firefighters to Sacred Heart found that she had not suffered any paralysis or brain damage in the fall, Jordan said. Because she had injured her neck and head, fire department and Okaloosa County Emergency Medical Services personnel immobilized Elizabeth before transporting her to a waiting helicopter at the Woodlands soccer field, Jordan said. She was admitted to intensive care, Jordan said. North Bay Fire Department was called to the scene at 12:57 p.m. Jordan said. The 911 call was made by the childs mother, Jordan said. Capt. Joseph E. Parker and other firefighters responded with five people in the engine, Jordan said. Chief ThomasGirl, 6, breaks neck in two-story fallBy Teresa Arlund Beacon Staff WriterA 6-year-old girl broke her neck in a fall from her secondstory window in Bluewater Bay Thursday, authorities said. Elizabeth Berry, 629 Rosewood Way, fell at least 14 feet and struck her head and knees on a concrete slab at about 1 p.m., reported North Bay Fire Department Assistant Chief Gary Jordan. She was taken by helicopter ambulance to Sacred Heart Childrens Hospital in Pensacola. She was listed in fair condition Friday, said Sacred Heart spokesman Mike Burke. Elizabeth suffered a fracture of the fourth cervical vertebrae in her neck, a broken jaw, and a concussion, Jordan said. A follow-up call from the Curry, the security coordinator and operations manager for the airport. Curry spent some time with the guardsmen Friday, discussing how to include them in the airport security force. Staff Sgt. Thomas Williford and Cpl. Wayne Hattaway, the first guardsmen to take up duties at the air terminal, both of Crestview, are Florida corrections officers in civilian life. They volunteered for the airport assignment. We were told to expect an assignment of six months or more, said Hattaway. State officials said the guardsmen called for the duty received a weeks training in airport security from the Federal Aviation Administration. Williford and Hattaway saidGuardsmen posted at county airportBy Mike Griffith Beacon CorrespondentFlorida National Guardsmen took up security duties at the Okaloosa Regional Airport Friday. The deployment came nearly a month after the Sept. 11 attack on the U.S. by four hijacked jetliners, and two weeks after President Bush asked the nations governors to send guardsmen to commercial airports to bolster security. Two Florida National Guardsmen armed with M-16 automatic rifles took up posts at the Okaloosa airport Friday morning, augmenting the existing security force of Okaloosa County Sheriffs deputies and private security officers. Its nice to have the added sets of eyes, said Terry D. Florida. Under state correctional guidelines, it is expected that Ball will serve aboaut 85 percent of that sentence, assuming good behavior while incarcerated, said Assistant State Attorney David Fleet. Ball had a blood alcohol level that was nearly twice the legal limit, according to police reports. The two boys and several other friends had begun drinking beer shortly after they left Niceville High School together at 1:45 p.m. the day of the crash, according to the traffic homicide report. A friend told police that he had warned Ball later that day not to drive because he had been drinking. The accident occurred at 9:17 p.m., when the 1988 Honda that Ball was driving at an estimated 55 mph in a 35 mph zone, struck a utility pole and flipped several times on John Sims Parkway. In Remingtons courtroom Wednesday Sharon Bolton, Daviss mother, asked the judge to be lenient on Ball. Although Ball and Davis were close friends, the victims mother said, she didnt really know Ball very well until the two met threeYouth gets 4 years in boys DUI deathBy Del Lessard Beacon Staff WriterSteven Ball, 18, of Niceville has been sentenced to four years in a state correctional facility in the DUI manslaughter death of his friend Travis Scott Davis, 17. Okaloosa County Circuit Judge Thomas Remington sentenced Ball Wednesday, six weeks after Ball pleaded guilty for being drunk at the wheel of a car when it struck a utility pole on John Sims Parkway, Niceville, on Oct. 18, 2000, killing the sole passenger, Davis, of Crestview. The judge could have sentenced Ball to 15 years in adult prison, but gave Ball, who was 17 years old at the time of the crash, the lighter sentence as a youthful offender. Youthful offender status will also keep Ball out of adult prison, allowing him to serve his sentence in one of six youthful offender facilities in months after the crash in the Niceville office of George Murphy, one of Balls lawyers. She said she saw the youth crying and remorseful, and she asked herself what her own son would want her to do. Travis was a very forgiving person, she said. He was just a young kid who made a mistake, Bolton told the court. Bolton also said her own son was a willing participant in the activities that led up to the fatal crash. She said she didnt want to see Balls life ruined by a lengthy prison term. Another defense witness at Wednesdays sentencing hearing was psychologist Dr. Michael Tallman. He told the court that when he first saw Ball in January, the youth had a horrendous attitude, displayed a sense of entitlement, and was not takingBeacon photo by M i ke Gr i ff i th Staff Sgt. Thomas Williford, left, and Cpl. Way ne Hattaway, Army National Guardsmen from Crestview, began providing added security at the Okaloosa Regional Airport Friday. Please see BOY, page A-10 Please see MU LLS, page A-10 Please see AIRPORT, page A-10 Please see QUESTION ED, page A-10 Please see GIRL, page A-10 Please see YOUTH, page A-10 Beacon photo by Del Lessard Steven Ball awaits sentencing W ednesday in a Shalimar courtroom for DUI manslaughter. Travis Davis Ryan MinsterBoy arrested in traffic crash that killed 2Car contained 22 cans of beer A look back at 9/11 and its aftermath B e a c o n 16 Pages, 1 Sectio n, 5 Inserts Wednesday, October 3, 200150baybeacon@aol.com Hometown news for Niceville, Valparaiso and Bluewater Bay. (850) 678-1080E X P R E S S All Around The Town A-2 Gardening A-8 Sports A-10 Church Directory A-12 Classifieds A-1 3INSIDE sets of parents alleging the school district violated Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 by relegating girls sports to a lesser position than boys sports. Title IX, among other things, generally requires equity between girls and boys sports program s in the nations public school systems. Under the proposed agreement the school district agreed to: Account for revenues and expenditures for each male and female sport. Provide uniforms of comparable quality and quantity for maleSchool district agrees to boost girls sportsBy Del Lessard Beacon Staff WriterUnder legal pressure, the Okaloosa County School Board Monday agreed to institute improvements at Niceville High School and other schools to make girls sports programs equal to boys programs. The district also agreed to pay $41,000 in fees to the plaintiffs lawyers and for court costs. The promises came in return for an agreement to dismiss a federal lawsuit filed last year by 10 and female sport teams. Provide dumbbells in the 2-, 3-, 5-, 8and 10-pound range at all weight rooms in the district. Ensure that pre-game meals provided to boys and girls athletic teams are substantially equivalent in quality and frequency. Maintain softball and baseball fields on an equivalent basis. Allow softball teams to solicit and display advertising on the perimeter fencing of their softball fields. Ensure adequate bleachers are provided at softball fields. Equivalent opportunity to establish a female Player of the Week program. A Lady Eagles sign in the weight facility. Benches with backs in the softball dugout. At Ruckel Middle School, the school district will provide: Substantially equivalent quality fence at softball and baseball fields. Installation of a five-foot chain link overhang at the top of the softball backstop. School Board Attorney Jeff McInnis estimated that the legal costs of defending the school district in the federal suit so far are about $70,000. Superintendent of Schools Don Gaetz said the costs of specific improvements called for in the settlement are almost negligible. The school board last school year approved his plan to spend about $2 million on capital improvements for girls sports, most in the first two years of a five-year plan, he said. Ensure equal access to sports drinks during competition and practice. The agreement also listed specific provisions at individual schools, including Niceville High School and Ruckel Middle School in Niceville. At Niceville High School the school district will provide: Equivalent opportunity to place team schedules on the large sign in front of the school. Traditionally the sign has been devoted solely to the football schedule.Medical team returns from N.Y.By Teresa Arlund Beacon Staff WriterIts a burial ground. Gary Kruschke, commander of the Gulf Coast Disaster Medical Assistance Team, described the rubble tha t once was the World Trade Center in New York City. You walk on it and you know youre walking on a graveyard, he said. Kruschke and his fellow team members returned home Sunday to a heroes welcome at Okaloosa Regional Airport after working for almost two weeks at what has become known as ground zero, former site of the twin towers that were destroyed in the Sept. 11 terrorist attack on Manhattans financial district. Over 6,000 people are believed dead. Thirty-five members of DMAT-1, comprised of about 125 medical and emergency personnel from Mobile, Ala., t o Panama City, flew to New York Sept. 16 to aid rescue and recovery workers. Mindy Carder, a registered nurse and veteran of the DMAT Guard to bolster security at airports in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the U.S. The federal government will pay for the Guard call-up. About 500 Florida National Guardsman from both the Air Force and Army branches trained with the FAA this week and will be in place at 19 Florida airports Friday, said Florida National Guard spokesman Lt. Steve Alvarez. Airport AdministrativeGuardsmen due at airport FridayBy Teresa Arlund Beacon Staff WriterAir travelers can expec t to see armed National Guard troops patrolling the Okaloosa Regional Airport later this week, officials said. Guardsmen are expected to begin assisting local airport security at Okaloosa Regional Airport on Friday, National Guard and airport officials said. President Bush asked governors to mobilize the National are employed full-time as civilians in essentially the same jobs they would perform if called up, such as technicians and pilots. The wing flies MC-130E Combat Talon I and MC-130P Combat Shadow aircraft. The Combat Talons are used primarily to insert special operations forces deep into hostile territories, often at night and at very low levels. The Combat Shadows are used for in-flightDuke unit calls 522 more reservistsBy Del Lessard Beacon Staff WriterOn Monday, the Department of Defense called up 522 reservists assigned to the 919th Special Operations Wing headquartered at Duke Field between Niceville and Crestview. The DOD already called up 66 security police reservists with the 919th last week. The 919th SOW has 990 traditional reservists, plus another 275 reservists who in peacetime Beacon photo by T eresa Arlun d Gulf Coast Disaster Medical Assistance Team member Hank Christen, left, shows pictures of the destruction in New York to son Ryan Christen and Ryans fellow firefighters at Ocean CityWright Fire Department. The Gulf Coast DMAT team re turned home Sunday. ers have been working around the clock to remove the rubble and recover bodies. We treated everything as minor as blisters to some pretty severe lacerations, Carder said. Respiratory infections were rampant as dust and smoke continued to choke recovery workers. Many stop briefly for breathing treatments and take antibiotics to battle the worst of it, but they keep working, she said. All but three of Gulf Coasts own team came home ill with respiratory problems, she said. Search and rescue workers from as far away as Utah and California traverse the unstable mountains of debris gingerly while fires as hot as 1,000 degrees continue to burn below ground. Recovery workers let go of their dim hopes of finding anyone left alive late last week as team since 1995 said the mood near what recovery workers call the pit and a second pile of debris is serious and very somber. Its a grave site, and thats how we all looked at it, she said. Family members of the missing met at the site each day at 4 p.m. for mass, she said. Carder was assigned to one of five medical camps at the disaster site where firefighters, police officers and construction workPlease see MEDICAL page A-3 Please see AIRPORT page A-12 Please see DUKE page A-2 Please see SCHOOL page A-6 Commission Chambers in Valparaiso. The proposed four-year one percent tax is on the Okaloosa County ballot Oct. 16. Fred Boyer, a member of the planning and advisory board, spoke in favor of the tax increase. He said that the mayor and the city commissioners have all gone on record in support of the tax. Panel backs sales taxBy George Larson Beacon CorrespondentBy a unanimous vote, the Valparaiso Planning and Advisory Board voted to endorse a proposed one percent countywide sales tax increase. The vote was taken at a meeting of the Valparaiso Planning and Advisory Board held on Sept. 26 in the Valparaiso City tionwas arrested less than an hour after an Okaloosa County grand jury returned an indictment Friday alleging that on Feb. 22, 2001, at and in the county of Okaloosa, State of Florida, Douglas A. Hutcheson did willfully submit false voter registration information, to-wit: indicating that his residence was 8234 Mormon Temple Road when said address was not his place of residence, in violation of section 104.011(2) Florida Statutes. Mormon Temple Road is in the unincorporated community of Escambia Farms, in the northwest corner of Okaloosa County. The indictment did not give another address for Hutcheson. At the time of his arrest, Hutcheson provided 2 Bayou Drive, Fort Walton Beach, as his home address. That is in an unincorporated area northeast of the Fort Walton Beach city limits. Both the Escambia Farms and Fort Walton Beach addresses are in District 3. The State Attorneys Office declined to say where it believed Hutcheson actually resided at the time he filed the voter registration information on Feb. 22. On the advice of his defense attorney, Buddy Cotton, Hutcheson told the Beacon he declined to give any statements on the case other than to declare, I look forward to being exonerated by a jury of my peers. Hutcheson was released on his own recognizance Friday. Assistant States Attorney Dick Schoditsch told the Beacon Monday that John Simon, an assistant state attorney in the districts Pensacola office will be the prosecutor in this case. He said using a prosecutor from the StateBy Del Lessard Beacon Staff WriterTo avoid an awkward situation, an Assistant States Attorney from Pensacola, rather than Okaloosa County, will prosecute Okaloosa County Commissioner Doug Hutcheson on a felony charge that he gave a false address on his voter registration. On Nov. 6 Hutchesonwho was elected last year to represent District 3 on the Okaloosa County Commissionis scheduled to enter a plea at the Crestview courthouse. This week he told the Beacon he believed he would be exonerated. Hutcheson, 44, of 2 Bayou Drive, Fort Walton Beacha self-employed attorney and a county commissioner since winning the seat in last years elecAttorneys office in Okaloosa County would be awkward. Although the county commission does not exercise any direct authority over the State Attorneys Office, it does provide Coming SaturdayNews scheduled for publication in The Bay Beacon this Saturday includes: The areas response to the terrorist attacks on the U.S. Will new labor-saving contracts with the countys trash haulers reduce your garbage bill? Positions of the two major candidates for the vacant First District U.S. Congress seat. Plans to split the Twin Cities into two county commission districts. Delivery of Saturdays Bay Beacon is available only by subscription. See Page 16 to subscribe. B ea co n photo by D e l L e ss ar d3 honored for foiling robberyThe Okaloosa County Sheriffs Office Thursday honore d a couple from Valparaiso, Donald and Joyce Plumm er, and a Bluewater Bay man, Mark Crane, for nabbing a Fort Walton Beach man accused of robbing a Mary Esther bank Aug. 29. T he Plummers, both in their mid-60s, and Crane, 42, were in the banks drive-through lanes when they saw a bank teller mouth the words, Ive just b een robbed. Mrs. Plummer pulled her vehicle up towards t he fleeing suspect while her husband jumped out and tack led the robber. Crane helped subdue the man until deputie s arrived. From left: Crane, Chief Deputy Fred C obb, Joyce and Donal d Plummer. Doug HutchesonOfficial asserts innocence on voter fraud chargeBoard members need to talk to friends and neighbors and convince them of the importance of this tax to the city, Boyer said. If approved by the voters, the tax would bring in $3.7 million to the city over the next four years. According to Boyer, approximately 28 percent of this would be paid by tourists. We [the City of Valparaiso] Please see OFFICIAL page A-6 Please see PANEL page A-12 12 Pages, 1 Section Saturday, September 15, 2001 Vol. 19, No. 37 50B e a c o n T h e B a y baybeacon@aol.com The hometown newspaper for Niceville, Valparaiso and Bluewater Bay (850) 678-1080 Please see CLOSE, page A-4 Please see EGLIN, page A-11Wolfowitz said any military action in response to the attacks will be a campaign, not a single action using the full resources of the United States government. He spoke of huge requirements to build up our military in the next year. We are in a different era, Wolfowitz said, everything is going to change. Hours after Tuesdays terrorist attacks, Col. David Bird, commander of the 96th Air Base Wing, the organization that provides support to other mili-Eglin and other bases prepare for war on terrorismBy Del Lessard Beacon Staff WriterU.S. military units appear to be gearing up for a long fight against terrorism. Air Force fighters have been flying protective missions over U.S. cities as a result of Tuesdays airborne terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, D.C., the Pentagon said. Eglin Air Force Base said its mission could include such patrols. On Wednesday, Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Once I was able to get in contact with my parents, she says. Cindy and her husband Paul now live in Niceville, but for her, home still means the Washington, D.C., area. It was home for 22 years, she said. Cindys parents live in Falls Church, Va., three miles from the Pentagon in Arlington, just outside Washington. Her nephew and brother-in-law, both Fairfax police deputies, have been helping with the rescue effort. Her sister is the principal at a middle school just a mile from the Pentagon, target of a hijacked airliner which crashedClose to homeEffects of attacks ripple through Twin CitiesBy Teresa Arlund Beacon Staff WriterWord of the trials of friends and family, distant or near, have washed through the Twin Cities like water through sand this week, touching us in ways we never dreamed possible. Residents of the Twin Cities, the nation, and the world have been struggling to come to grips with the weeks hideous events in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania. What follows are just some of the stories that will continue to change and define our community. * Niceville resident Cindy Schroeder says shes better now. Beacon photo by Del Lessard Airport security personnel at the Okaloosa County Regional Airport use a magnetic wand to electronically search an airline pilot after the airport reopened Thursday afternoon. The airport is under increased security measures as a result of the terrorist attacks Tuesday. Beacon photo by Mike Griffith Men, women and young people pray for the victims of this weeks terrorist attacks in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania at a communitywide prayer service sponsored by the Twin Cities Ministerial Association Thursday at Rocky Bayou Baptist Church. Story A5. Beacon photo by Del Lessard Parking areas around the Okaloosa County Regional Airport are cordoned off to keep all vehicles at least 300 feet from the terminal.boarding areas, and vehicles are not permitted within 100 yards of the terminal. Thursday afternoon, an Air Southeast Airlines aircraft was the first plane to leave the Okaloosa County Regional Airport after the facility resumed operations. The airport was declared operational at 4 p.m. Thursday after it received Federal Aviation Administration certification. An ASA flight to Atlanta was the first flight to depart, leaving in the first hour.Airport reopens under heightened securityStricter searches; vehicles barred from 100-yard zone near terminalBy Del Lessard Beacon Staff WriterOkaloosa County Regional Airport reopened Thursday afternoon under tighter security. Air travelers were warned nationwide to allow extra time for check-in due to new safeguards adopted after four airliners were hijacked and crashed Tuesday. Stricter search requirements were instituted, only passengers are allowed inAmerica mourns, girds for war Please see AIRPORT, page A-3Prayers for victims, nation; Eglin remains on alert, ready to serve our countryBeacon photo by Teresa Arlund Flags fly at half staff at Plew Elementary School and across the Twin Cities as the nation mourns. National calamityTuesday morning Americans woke up to news that an airliner had crashed into one of the 110-story twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. Minutes later, its last horrifying seconds captured on film and now indelibly etched in the minds eye of an entire generation, a second airliner crashed into the second tower, signaling that this catastrophe was no accident. Yet another plane slammed into the Pentagon, just outside Washington, D.C., and a fourth crashed in Pennsylvania. All four planes had been hijacked by suicide squads of Middle Eastern terrorists armed with knives, the FBI said. Perhaps 4,700 Americans are feared dead in the most devastating single foreign attack on American soil in history. The grim task of recovering bodies has many days, perhaps weeks, to go. Within an hour of the assaults, the FAA shut down the nations air traffic. At 8:40 a.m. Okaloosa County passengers boarding a flight to Atlanta were told to disembark. At 10:30 a.m. Eglin Air Force Base tightened its security to the highest level. As details of the terrorist attack unfolded, President Bush was flown from Florida to military bases in Louisiana and Nebraska, escorted by Air Force fighter jets, some of them perhaps from Eglin. The President and other national officials began issuing statements about impending war, rather than the simple promises of arrest and retaliation which have followed past terror attacks. The President Friday declared a national emergency and approved a request to call up 50,000 reservists. The President named Friday a day of prayer and remembrance, and asked the country for a moment of silence at noon. The Beacons coverage of what these events and what they mean for our community continues on pages A-3, A-4, A-5, A-6, A-7,. A-8, and A-10. 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country has yet to adapt to the realization that a tiny yet determined group of terrorists can still inflict great harm. He likened our response to coming to a knife fight in a phone booth using Marquess of Queensberry rules. The impact 9/11 has had on our nations military hits home at Eglin, where an average of 1,600 warriors are deployed annually, said Col. Sal Nodjomian, 96th Air Base Wing commander, Eglin Air Force Base. Every member of Eglin is critical to our success and is part of our extended family, Nodjomian said. The losses weve suffered, both in combat and here at home, leave a gaping hole in our hearts. Im extremely proud of what Team Eglin warriors have accomplished both here and downrange to support our nations efforts worldwide. Eglin now has 607 members deployed. It has deployed a total of 966 so far this year. Last year the base deployed a total of 1,433, and a total of 2,106 in 2009. Niceville High School senior Shane Horton was in second grade as the events of Sept. 11, 2001, unfolded. Although he heard about it in his classroom that morning Shane said it wasnt until his parents explained it that he began to grasp just how historic an event had happened in his own young lifetime. Ten years later, Shane says he senses more national pride among his peers at school: As you mature you realize, Hey, Im a part of something bigger than me. I live in the greatest country in the world. He said he respects and enjoys saying the Pledge of Allegiance and having a daily moment of silence. I believe it should be taken very seriously. The biggest change is the lack of freedoms that we enjoyed so much before, said Charles Merkel 53rd Wing historian on Eglin and a career Army veteran who served in Vietnam and two years ago as a Defense Department civilian deployed to Afghanistan. In my wildest dreams I would never have thought of a fully loaded airplane as a weapon, Merkel said. As a result he said, One guy tries to blow up a plane with a shoe bomb and everybody has to take their shoes off. Its not fun to fly anymore. In a 2009 visit to Philadelphia with his wife, Diane, Merkel recalled the discouraging hassle of lines and checkpoints to even get close to the Liberty Bell. As a child visiting with his parents, Merkel said he was able to walk up and touch the famous bell. Susan Watson, Northwest Regional Director of the Florida branch of the American Civil Liberties Union said Americans have lost some of their cherished freedoms in the wake of 9/11. We lost our way when, instead of addressing the challenge of terrorism consistent with our values, our government chose the path of torture and targeted killing, of Guantanamo and military commissions, of warrantless government spying and the entrenchment of a national surveillance state, all of which now define the post-9/11 era, Watson said. That is not who we are, or who we want to be. Watson continued, We must ratchet down the post-9/11 national security state and continuing assaults on civil liberties, or else we risk enshrining a permanent state of emergency. We should not let the politics of fear dominate our political and legal discourse. I dont see much change, said Niceville City Councilman William Thomas, who retired from a career in the military and as a sheriffs deputy. Were a fourday nation, he said. We cry for three days than go back to normal. The government, Thomas said, can make all sorts of security arrangements, but its up to we the people to follow through. People dont believe it can happen again, he said, they go to the airport and complain about security measures. I dont think its a matter of if but when, terrorists will again attack America. He added, It pays to be aware. If you notice something out of whack, call somebody. People have a higher respect for firefighters knowing they run in to burning buildings that might collapse, said Mark Norris, Valparaiso fire chief. Ten years ago, then an Air Force firefighter, Norris recalls watching the collapse of the Twin Towers and thinking that no one had anticipated that such massive structures could fall. Okaloosa County Schools Superintendent Alexis Tibbetts was visiting middle school classrooms Thursday. In one I asked students if any of them remembered 9/11. Of course they were all 3 or 4 years old when it occurred and several of them said that they remember they were being dropped off at daycare or preschool and their parents were very upset and it was obvious that something important had happened. That is really the only recollection that most of our students K-12 have of that event. Tibbetts said schools will commemorate that day with lessons, activities or discussions about the terrorist attacks that are grade appropriate. She added, I will remember forever as the principal of a school the terrifying events of that day. One of my vivid memories are the stories of Flight 93 in Shanksville, Penn., and the other demonstrations of great courage and patriotism on that day. That is what I personally speak with students about when I discuss 9/11 with them, she said. I was at home with my family when the events (of 9/11) unfolded, and when I saw what happened I got in uniform, drove to the base, and began to prepare my squadron to go to war, said Air Force Brig. Gen. Richard Beef Haddad, Valparaiso, then a reservist and commander of the 711th Special Operations Squadron, Duke Field. My squadron was soon activated and we were instrumental in the success of the Air Forces first missions incountry, Haddad said. These citizen airmen have continued to answer our nations call ever since, and just recently returned from Afghanistan. Everyone in my life, from my neighbors in Valparaiso, to my airline co-workers, to my daughters and wife at home, were behind me 100 percent as we flew overseas to hunt for those who caused these events, Haddad said. I have been away from my airline job for about five of the last 10 years, said Haddad, who has since been promoted to brigadier general on active duty. The aviation industry is much safer and secure than it was prior to 9/11, but measures we now take for granted would have been considered remarkable on Sept. 10, 2001. Were more prepared, said Randy McDaniel, Okaloosa Countys chief of Emergency Management. Since 9/11 a 10county Regional Domestic Task Force was formed, he said, and Okaloosa County engages in and frequently exercises with diverse agencies and most such exercises include some type of terrorism angle, such as hazardous materials events. Tibbetts also talked about other changes: We have more fencing, cameras and plans for lockdown procedures than ever before. We partner with the local sheriff departments and have automatic contact systems for parents via phone and are working toward email. She continued, Social studies standards have been added by the state that address terrorism in both American and world history. In addition, 9/11 has brought increased attention to the Middle Eastern culture, governments and economy. One thing seems very American and unchanged: Its been an honor and privilege to have been among so many heroes, Merkel said about his 2009-10 civilian tour in Afghanistan, especially those who died in their countrys service. As of Aug. 31, for Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, once home of the al-Qaida terror group, the Department of Defense reported that 1,383 American service members and DOD civilians had been killed in action. Another 362 died in nonhostile incidents. There were 13,609 wounded. Meantime, in Iraq, there were 3,489 military and DOD civilians killed in action, in addition to 932 nonhostile deaths and 31,921 wounded. The voice of Niceville, Bluewater Bay and Valparaiso since 1992 Wednesday, September 7, 2011 Page A-3 Pollys Concrete Products Pollys Concrete Productswww.pollysconcrete.com Before After $50.00OFFFormed & Poured Driveway$100.00OFFCobblestone Paver DrivewayREADY TO ENHANCE YOUR CURB APPEAL?Upgrade your old existing driveway with Stylish Cobblestone Pavers or we can remove and repour your driveway.Call today for a free estimate 897-3314 www.DiamondWorksJewelry.comPark Place Plaza, Next to Santa Rosa Mall 323 Page Bacon Rd., Mary Esther 850-244-5252 | Mike Tarbuck, Jeweler-OwnerJEWELRY REPAIR NEXT DAY SERVICE REMOUNTS CUSTOM DESIGNPreferred Jeweler fromGilmores JewelryDiamond Worksinc. Sapphire in a rainbowof colorsSeptembers BirthstoneSapphire Earrings Sapphire Ring Start YOURSuccess Storyfor $10(850) 678-91111049 John Sims Pkwy. 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At 9 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 11, North Bay firefighters will hold a memorial service in the Winn-Dixie shopping center parking lot in Bluewater Bay. A large flag will be hoisted by the departments ladder truck with an honor guard from the Knights of Columbus. North Bay Fire Chief Joe Miller and Division Chief Joseph Parker will both give short presentations. Also Sunday, from 1-2 p.m., the public is invited to the Okaloosa Island Fire Station, 104 Santa Rosa Blvd., Fort Walton Beach, where firefighters will also conduct memorial services. A military honor guard will begin the Okaloosa Island ceremony by presenting the colors at 1 p.m., followed by the singing of the national anthem by the Choctawhatchee High School chorus. An eight-foottall memorial monument in front of the fire station will be unveiled, a bell will be rung 10 times, one for each year since 9/11, and Amazing Grace will be presented by Emerald Coast Pipes and Drums. Speakers will include Fire Commissioner Nick Corbo and Lt. Ginny Cranor, from the Pensacola Fire Department. Refreshments will be served at the fire station from 2-4 p.m. Some local churches say they plan to observe the anniversary during services on Sunday, Sept. 11. The Niceville Assembly of God plans a special message on hope, and has invited police and fire department to be honored. Nicevilles First Baptist Church has canceled Sunday School and will hold a twohour service, from 9 a.m.-11 a.m., talking about getting beyond hard times, working through 9/11 and touching on other tragedies, according to church officials. Many of the schools in Okaloosa County are also conducting special time related to 9/11 and its aftermath all this week. At Ruckel Middle School, for example, the program is called Hero Week. Students will have learning activities every day to better understand the events of 9/11 and the sacrifices many people made on that day, school officials said. Students will develop a timeline of events on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001; write about the characteristics of a hero and design a memorial for the victims of 9/11. On Thursday, Sept. 8, at 1:20 p.m. Ruckel will honor local heroes, mostly first responders, from Niceville and Okaloosa County. The goal is for students to learn about 9/11, but also to understand what it takes to be a hero.

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shelter elsewhere. The owner must stay at the arena shelter if he wants a pet sheltered. Officials also said each animal must arrive in its own portable container, and with proof of rabies vaccination. Only dogs, cats and birds will be accepted. The shelter at NWFSC is not the only county haven for either people or animals. Other public shelters are in or near either Crestview or Fort Walton Beach. Jack Gill, an NWFSC professor who originated the plan to house pets at the college in an emergency, told the Beacon that the facility at NWFSC will house about 250 pets. Gill has two pet cats and 25 squirrels, including 19 baby squirrels. He explained that he is a licensed wildlife rehabilator. He doesnt plan to use the college shelter himself. There are also two other petfriendly county hurricane shelters in Okaloosa County, at Antioch and Davidson middle schools near Crestview, which together can hold between 350 and 400 pets. The total of between 600 and 650 pets that can be sheltered by the county during an emergency is a step in the right direction, said Gill, but is not yet enough. Given the number of people who could potentially seek shelter in Okaloosa County during a storm, and assuming that about 60 percent of those people have pets, as many as 2,000 pets could need sheltering when their owners do. Gill said it is important for people to include their pets in their family emergency plans, and decide in advance where they will go in an emergency and how they will transport and shelter their animals. He also said that people sheltering at NWFSC should bring their own pet food, medicines, and other supplies their pets may need during an emergency. The need for pet shelters during hurricanes became obvious after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast in 2005, said Gill. Of the 1,835 people killed by Katrina, about 600 are believed to have been people who could have found shelter, but chose to stay home to care for their pets because no public shelters would then accept animals, according to figures he obtained from the American Red Cross. People with pets are usually very emotionally attached to them, considering them to be members of their family, and are very reluctant to leave an animal behind, even to save their own lives. Thus, Gill said, providing shelter for pets saves human lives as well. There are more than a dozen hotels and motels in Okaloosa County that say they would accept pets during emergencies, Gill said. However, all but four of these are located on the countys barrier islands, in areas most likely to need evacuation during a serious storm. Only four such motels are inland, said Gill, and of these, only one is located in Niceville or Valparaiso. Gill said that county shelters can only handle small pets like dogs and cats. Owners of larger animals, such as horses, must still make their own arrangements for transporting and boarding their animals in a safe location. Gill has posted a video on YouTube of his original presentation to county and college officials advocating pet-friendly shelters. The video contains statistics and other information about pet sheltering, and can be found on YouTube.com by entering Shelter Presentation 18 or Jack Gill 1959 into the search box on the website. Okaloosa County Emergency Manager Randy McDaniel said volunteers from the local Humane Society and PAWS, the countys animal control contractor, are preparing supplies and equipment, and will operate the pet shelter during emergencies. He said that if necessary, the county can accommodate up to about 700 petsslightly more than Gill had estimated. McDaniel said he does not expect the county to expand its pet sheltering capacity in the foreseeable future, as this would require finding sturdy buildings near existing shelters, and obtaining additional emergency generators. McDaniel also emphasized that public shelters are the last resort for pets as well as for their owners. The best emergency plan, he said, includes knowing ahead of time where one will go, such as planning to stay with relatives or at a motel, and making reservations in advance. Those who do bring pets to the college, McDaniel said, should bring the animal in an approved pet carrier, which will be the pets bedroom during the emergency. Owners should also bring proof that the animal has a current rabies vaccination, and bring enough food for the animal to maintain its usual diet, although he said the volunteer shelter operators will also have a supply of emergency food on hand. McDaniel said pet owners will stay at the NWFSC arena, and will be encouraged to visit and spend time with their pets at Building S when storm conditions permit. For information about Okaloosa County shelters and emergency planning, call the county information hotline at 311, the public safety department at 651-7569, or visit the county website at okaloosafl.com. The voice of Niceville, Bluewater Bay and Valparaiso since 1992Page A-4 Wednesday, September 7, 2011 THEBAYBEACON Criminal Law, DUI, Family Law, Divorce (850) 729-7770 www.michaelweinstock.com 795 East John Sims Parkway, Suite 1, NicevilleFelonies, Misdemeanors, DUI, Drug Offenses, VOP, Domestic Violence Sex Offenses, Bond Issues Divorce (Contested & Uncontested), Custody, Child Support Department of Revenue actions, Guardianship, Visitation Contempt Actions, Alimony Issues 209 Government Ave., Niceville 678-7925Sales & Installation FREE Estimates Mon.-Fri. 8am 5pm Sat. by AppointmentSIMPLER CARPET & TILE, INC. Serving Niceville-Valparaiso for 50 yearsBrowse our selection of Hardwood & Laminate www.orthoassociates.net www.oaspine.comORTHOPAEDIC ASSOCIATESand The Spine Institute at Orthopaedic Associates Niceville (850) 678-2249 554-D Twin Cities Blvd. Destin (850) 837-3926 36500 Emerald Coast Pkwy. Ft. Walton (850) 863-2153 1034 Mar Walt Drive (850) 863-4187401-B Mary Esther Blvd., Mary Esther(Located across from Santa Rosa Mall) Call Debbie Stretch at (850) 218-8312 for more details!HOMES WITH POOLS 3 FREE MONTHSOF POOL SERVICE!List or buy from me and receivePartnered with Pristine Pool & Spa Service DEBBIE STRETCH Realtor PETSFrom page A-1 Four classrooms, including this one, in the S Building on Niceville campus of Northwest Florida State College will serve as a hurricane shelter for the pets of people sheltering at the college arena nearby. Beacon photo by Del Lessard NFL Monday Night Football Pour till they Score!Ask your server about Game SpecialsBLUEWATERBAY (850) 897-3964 4538 HWY20 E., NICEVILLE FOO TBALLHEADQUARTERSFOO TBALLHEADQUARTERSYOURYOURfor College & NFL Games! for College & NFL Games! 19 HDTVs 19 HDTVsFavoriteGAME!FavoriteGAME!to watch your to watch your Chooseyourteam--Wellshowyouthegame Dr. Scott Beals D.O. F.A.A.D.Board Certified American Board of Dermatology(850) 897-7546Accepting New Patients www.bluewaterskindoc.com www.derm-surg.com4566 Hwy. 20 East, Suite 101, Niceville Moh's Micrographic Surgery General Dermatology Evaluations Sun Damaged Skin Rejuvenation Laser Treatments, Pellev Chemical Facial Peels Specializing in Skin Cancer and Surgical Dermatology Procedures 11 Yacht Club Dr., Ft. Walton Beach | 850-244-4480BB0811 So you think youCANTDance?Let us prove you wrong! Bring this ad in toRECEIVE 5 sessions for $55!* New students only A New Caf in Old Niceville Daily specials Soups, Salads, Sandwiches, Gelato, Espresso Quick, counter service Call ahead for carry-out Meeting room available by reservation Beignets every Saturday and Sunday 10% discount for active and retired military Tues-Sat 11-7 Sun 12-6 Closed Monday$1OFFBB314 Bayshore Dr, Niceville 678-CAF(2233) www.cafebienville.com your meal purchase when you bring in this ad Courtesy photo Jack Gill, who successfully pushed for a hurricane shelter for pets at Northwest Florida State College, with one of the 25 squirrels who live with him. He also keeps two cats. Find out how at www.eglinfcu.org.862-0111 ext. 1315Want to Join?

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The voice of Niceville, Bluewater Bay and Valparaiso since 1992 Wednesday, September 7, 2011 Page A-5 Lifes even better when you get your premium back. Bo Burns, Agent 1811 John Sims Parkway Niceville, FL 32578 Bus: 850-678-3441 bo.burns.cvly@statefarm.com bo.burns.cvly@statefarm.com Bus: 850-678-3441 Niceville, FL 32578 1811 John Sims Parkway Bo Burns, Agent or p p le n h ac u o w y o t h u d o in F sh a d c liu b sse r l o y f lim r fa uoy uimer r p uo t y e n g ev r e, o eulav ene e b cnarus e in f e li h f tk i cab e e h t at t u d o ia n p ee t b o s n ah .doire m p uimer l p eve e l h f t o Y A AY DO E TL M LAC tceto sh smu te dn e e 10 1010 1 e I fi m L re l T eve m L uimer e P lbatsujdA 08 ; 0 I W Y N T t M pecxe ol B ynapmo e C cnarusn e I fi m L ra e F tatS uss t A nedicc d A n e a fi m L ra e F tatS oolB setat l s l n a5 i 208 s 0 eire y s cilo e p cnarusn e I .I Y & Wn N5 i 2080 ; A T n M5 i 70 d W n Y a, N A n Md i esneci t l oN L (, I notgnimoo ,)I d W n Y an Nd i esneciL y ( napmo e C cn aru L I ,notgn mi o )I d W -Ballroom -Rhythm-Swing -Latin-Night Club850-200-73481047 E. John C. Sims Pkwy., Palm Plaza, Nicevillestepbystepballroom.comStep by Step Ballroom NEW CLASS Starting Sept. 3rd The Finest inEYE CARERight Here in NicevilleLEE MULLIS, MD Over 25 Years Experience National Leader in Painless No-Stitch Cataract Surgery A Kind and Friendly Way Darren Payne, MDBoard Certified Eye Physician & SurgeonLee Mullis, MDBoard Certified Eye Physician & Surgeon The Friendly & Caring StaffDARREN PAYNE, MD Full-Time Medical Director of Niceville Office 15 Years Experience A Friendly and Caring PersonalityMULLISEYEINSTITUTECall for an appointment We Specialize in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Eye Conditions Associated with Aging, including: CATARACTS DROOPY EYE LIDS 115 Bailey Dr., Niceville (850)678-5338930 N. Ferdon Blvd., Crestview (850) 682-5338 GLAUCOMA RETINA PROBLEMS Medicare Assignment AcceptedPedestrian hurt crossing highwayBy Del LessardBeacon Staff Writer A 15-year-old Niceville boy was taken by helicopter ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola after he was struck by a pickup truck while trying to cross John Sims Parkway. The boy was released from the hospital the following day. An accident report filed by Niceville police gave the following account: Brandon Clifford Weeks, 15, of Niceville, was struck by an eastbound pickup truck about 9 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 30, while attempting to cross two eastbound lanes of John Sims Parkway just east of the traffic light and in front of the Chickfil-A restaurant. Weeks was on the south shoulder and attempted to cross into the median when he was struck by the pickup and thrown into the air, landing on the edge of the median and rolling over to the center of the median. Witnesses said the pickup truck, driven by Brock Buddles, 30, also of Niceville, had the green light as the boy attempted to cross. Buddles wife and two small children were in the car and were not injured. Weeks was taken from the scene by EMS ambulance to Twin Cities Hospital then airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola. A spokesman at Sacred Heart said Weeks was released the next day. Police said the driver was not at fault. No citations were issued.Sewer sprayfield costs riseBy Del LessardBeacon Staff Writer The Niceville, Valparaiso, Okaloosa County Regional Sewer Board has been told by its engineer, Glenn Stephens, that nearly 80 acres of land have been identified as suitable for construction of nine rapid infiltration basins (RIBS) systems, a method that reduces the area needed to safely disperse treated sewage effluent for absorption into the ground. Six of the nine RIBS would be located on the sewer boards largest existing spray field, on Eglin Reservation land north of College Boulevard, Niceville. The remaining three would be located on an adjacent field, Stephens said. Stephens said that engineers had initially hoped to build the entire 80-acre RIBS on a single area on the northernmost area of the existing spray field. However, a geological inspection of the soil at the existing spray field found an unexpected layer of impermeable clay several feet underground, he said. The plan to divide the system into four lots to avoid the clay has tentatively received approval from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and Eglin Air Force Base, Stephens said. By switching to RIBS technology, the sewer board plans to reduce the acreage that it has to lease from Eglin, now over 300 acres. Eglin has sharply raised the price of renting Air Force land, causing the sewer board to invest heavily in the new system to reduce spray-field acreage. months of the 2009-10 fiscal year, with no merit raises included. This years combination of across-the-board and merit raises amounts to $14,241 and was included in the regional sewers $1,806,045 annual budget, Helms said. The current budget is nearly $39,000 less than the amount budgeted the previous year. Separately, the Regional Sewer Board was told by its engineer, Glenn Stephens, that nearly 80 acres of land have finally been identified as suitable for construction of nine rapid infiltration basins (RIBS) systems, a method that reduces the area needed to safely disperse treated sewage effluent for absorption into the ground. Six of the nine RIBS would be located on the sewer boards largest existing spray field north of College Boulevard while the remaining three would be located on an adjacent back field, he said. Stephens said that engineers had initially hoped to build the entire 80-acre RIBS on a single area on the northernmost area of the existing spray field. However, a geological inspection of the soil at the existing spray field found an unexpected area of impermeable clay several feet under ground, he said. The plan to divide the system into four lots to avoid the clay has tentatively received approval from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and Eglin Air Force Base, he said. By switching to RIBS technology, the sewer board plans to reduce the acreage that it has to lease from Eglin, now over 300 acres. Eglin has sharply raised the price of renting Air Force land, causing the sewer board to invest heavily in the new system to reduce sprayfield acreage. PAYFrom page A-1 Beacon photoSome 300 acres of sewage spray fields north of Niceville will be replaced with a new system using less land. Sun. 11am8pm Mon. Thurs. 11am9pm Fri. & Sat. 11am 10pm1027 John Sims Pkwy E, Palm Plaza, Niceville 850 6785072EDSHOMETOWNSEAFOOD& STEAKSSaturday, September 10th: Sign up @ 7:00 p.m., Starts @ 7:30 $5 Fee 100% Give Back During Tournament: $5 Pitchers $10 Buckets (domestic only)OPEN DART TOURNAMENT OPEN DART TOURNAMENT Since 1986Oak Creek Shopping Center Niceville 678-1593 9-7 Mon.-Sat.www.bayoubookcompany.com Mark J. Hainds will be at Bayou Books Saturday, September 10th, 11 a.m. 1 p.m. EdibleARRANGEMENTSEdibleArrangements.com 850-226-4111Mariner Plaza 230 Eglin Parkway N.E., Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547$7VALID FOR PICK-UP OR DELIVERYWhen you mention this ad. Offer valid on select products. Cannot be combined with other offers. Offer code must be used when placing the order. Code: bayb09 11 Exp: 9/30/11o o f f f f !YOUR ORDERTropical Delicious Daisy Emerald Coast-Niceville 850-279-4332PAL Soccer Season Kickoff September 10th, 8am at the Recreation Complex and Twin Oaks Keller Williams is proud to sponsor 7 PAL Soccer TeamsU6 Co-edJanice Busovne U8 GirlsLynn Bowling U8 BoysSusan Rood & Debbie Collins U10 BoysJanice Busovne U12 GirlsJean Floyd U14 GirlsMary Coger U14 BoysChris Schwantz KW Coaches: U8 Boys: James RoodU10 Boys: Bernie Busovne

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ArrestsBill Daniel Matlock, 34, of 210 22nd St., Niceville, was arrested by sheriffs deputies Aug. 3 on a misdemeanor worthless check charge related to a $30 check. * Anthony Scott Barnett, 25, of 610 Crestview Ave., Niceville, was arrested by sheriffs deputies Aug. 25 on a misdemeanor worthless check charge related to checks for $76, $252, $300 and $12. * Cynthia Lachelle Mack, 21, of 312 Shirley Drive, Fort Walton Beach, was arrested by Niceville police Aug. 23 on a charge of grand theft. While working a cash register at the Niceville Walmart Aug. 23 Mack allegedly failed to scan or ring up a $300 stereo receiver, then placed it in a bag for the customer, an acquaintance of Macks, to carry out of the store. On Aug. 19 Mack is alleged to have under rang two items for a man, and later that same day rang up a $170 receiver, then voided the transaction and placed the item in the customers bag. Total value of the transactions was $590. * Steven William Roberts, 23, of 1722 Union Ave., Niceville, was arrested by Niceville police, subsequent to a traffic stop for a broken left brake light cover, Aug. 22, on charges of carrying a concealed firearm, possession of imitation controlled substance with intent to sell or distribute, and possession of drug paraphernalia. After a police drug dog alerted to the presence of narcotics, police searched Roberts vehicle and found a .380 semi-automatic handgun underneath the front seat, between the drivers and middle seat, as well as three hypodermic needles and three spoons, one of which had white residue, and a knotted, clear plastic bag containing a white powder, which did not test positive for narcotics. Roberts allegedly admitted that the baggie contained baking powder and that he intended to sell to someone as a real controlled substance. Police also removed a ceiling console where two more needles and a clear plastic baggy containing white residue that tested positive for cocaine. The handgun had been reported as stolen in Walton County. * Ronald Eric Hoback, a sandwich maker, 30, of 1305 S. Cedar Ave., Niceville, was arrested by Niceville police Aug. 26 on a charge of possession of a legend drug without a prescription. Hoback allegedly admitted buying three pills found in his backpack from a male in a trailer park. The pills were identified as methocarbamol 500 mg, a mild, non-schedule muscle relaxer available only by prescription. * Brandon Michael Grim, a cook, 24, of 310 Andrews Drive, Niceville, was arrested by sheriffs deputies Aug. 26 on a violation of probation charge on original charges of DUI and leaving the scene of an accident. * Wendy Beth Fleck, a waitress, 36, of 405 Government Ave., Niceville, was arrested by sheriffs deputies Aug. 27 on a violation of probation charge on the original misdemeanor charge of worthless checks.TheftsA motorcyclist who stopped Aug. 26 to eat at a Niceville fast food restaurant, 1022 E. John Sims Parkway, reported that half an hour after stopping he walked back outside and discovered unknown person(s) had stolen his helmet and the vehicle tag. The stolen items were valued at $235. * A woman visiting her mothers home in the 1400 block of Cypress Street Aug. 29 discovered that unknown person(s) had stolen an $800 air conditioning unit from the outside of the property. A neighbor reported seeing a truck with a trailer at the residence within the previous seven days but was unable to see what was loaded onto the trailer.Criminal MischiefA Niceville resident from the 100 block of Black Bear Circle reported Aug. 28 that someone drove over his lawn sometime overnight Aug. 27-28, leaving tire marks in the lawn. Five portable toilets in the neighborhood were also discovered tipped over. * A Niceville resident reported that unknown person(s) scratched the drivers side of his vehicle sometime Aug. 26-27 while the vehicle was parked in the 200 block of Sweetwater Run. There were also a few small dents along the drivers side of the vehicle. * Unknown person(s) stole the stop sign and pole from the northbound intersection of Palm Boulevard and 21st Street, it was reported Aug. 27. A Niceville city worker replaced the missing pole and sign. * Vandal(s) caused an estimated $1,000 damage to a pickup truck parked in the driveway of a residence in the 400 block of Greenwood Way, Niceville, sometime Aug. 27-28. A rock that appeared to have caused the large dent in the rear side panel of the vehicle was found nearby with writing on one side, Leave town by 4! and an obscene drawing on the other side.OtherMelanee Michelle Martin, 32, of 499 Johnson St., Apt. 4, Valparaiso, was issued a notice to appear by sheriffs deputies Aug. 25 on a charge of retail theft. Martin was allegedly observed at the Fort Walton Beach Kmart, 200 NE Irwin Ave., concealing and consuming $25 worth of beer and Slim Jims then failing to pay for the merchandise. * Zachariah W. Borleske, unemployed, 27, of 13947 Highway 20, Niceville, was issued a notice to appear by sheriffs deputies Aug. 21 on a charge of possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana. * Jessica B. Miller, 25, of 507 Nelson Point Road, Niceville, was issued a notice to appear by sheriffs deputies Aug. 11 on a charge of retail theft. Miller was allegedly observed concealing a $4 pack of lighters without paying for the items at a Mary Esther business, 251 Mary Esther Blvd. * A 17-year-old Niceville boy The voice of Niceville, Bluewater Bay and Valparaiso since 1992 Police BlotterThe following accounts of the activities of police are according to records of the Niceville and Valparaiso police departments, the Okaloosa County and Walton County sheriffs offices, other law-enforcement agencies, and the Okaloosa County and Walton County jails. Fire Department ReportsNiceville This information is from reports by the Okaloosa County Sheriffs Office. A reward is offered by Emerald Coast Crime Stoppers, 863-8477, or 1-888-654-8477. Information can also be provided anonymously by texting TIP214 plus the message to CRIMES (274637)Okaloosa seeks fugitivesThis information is from reports by the Okaloosa County Sheriffs Office. Name: Daniel Westly Arthur Wanted for: fraud, neglect of an elderly or disabled person without great harm, possession of a controlled substance, forgery and theft. Arthurs last known address was on McFarlan Avenue in Fort Walton Beach. Height: 5 feet, 8 inches Weight: 155 Age: 29, Date of birth: 06-06-1982 Hair: brown, Eyes: green Name: Kenneth Marion Webster Wanted for: burglary and larceny. Websters last known address was on Dads Road in Milligan. Height: 5 feet, 9 inches Weight: 180 Age: 33 Date of birth: 08-23-1978 Hair: brown Eyes: blueThe Valparaiso Volunteer Fire Department responded to the following calls during the month of August: Street Situation Date Time N. Bayshore Drive......................Breathing problem...............08/05/11...........18:35 Glendale Avenue........................Overdose/poisoning............08/07/11...........15:41 N. Bayshore Drive......................Traumatic injury...................08/08/11...........12:42 N. Bayshore Drive......................Breathing problem...............08/08/11...........12:49 Lanman Road.............................Fire alarm............................08/10/11...........19:59 Linden Avenue............................Fire structure.......................08/10/11...........20:03 Biscayne Lane............................Fire structure.......................08/10/11...........20:25 N. Partin Drive............................Station move-up..................08/10/11...........20:42 Pine Avenue................................Fire alarm............................08/10/11...........20:54 Valparaiso Parkway....................Allergic reaction...................08/11/11............03:11 N. John Sims Parkway...............Fire service call...................08/11/11............11:50 S. Bayshore Drive......................Unconscious........................08/11/11............11:52 Madison Avenue.........................Diabetic ...............................08/12/11...........03:33 Edge Avenue..............................Fall.......................................08/13/11...........12:56 Glendale Avenue........................OD/poisoning.......................08/16/11...........20:51 Madison Avenue.........................OD/poisoning .....................08/16/11...........23:03 Ohio Avenue...............................Fall.......................................08/17/11...........00:33 Reeves Avenue..........................Fire service call...................08/19/11...........03:04 Valparaiso Parkway....................Fall.......................................08/19/11...........12:43 Seminole Avenue........................Medical alarm......................08/20/11...........16:30 N. Bayshore Drive......................Sick call................................08/20/11...........18:37 S. John Sims Parkway...............Fire alarm............................08/22/11...........00:22 Okaloosa Avenue.......................Abdominal pain...................08/22/11...........22:26 N. Bayshore Drive......................Sick call................................08/23/11...........21:07 Glen Avenue...............................Choking................................08/25/11...........12:51 Chicago Avenue.........................Fall.......................................08/27/11...........15:58 S. John Sims Parkway...............Breathing problem...............08/29/11...........14:38 Johnson Street............................Chest pain...........................08/30/11...........14:35 Let us never forget another day that will go down in InfamySeptember 11, 2001 at 08:46 our world was changed. Go to http://wtc911.us/wtc_911_facts.html for details about that day and its impact. Please support your local emergency services departments. Never Forget 9/11. The Niceville Fire Department responded to the following calls August 29, 2011, through September 1, 2011. 0 Structure Fire6 Emergency Medical Calls 0 Vehicle Fire1 Vehicle Crash 0 Other Fire0 Vehicle Crash with Extrication 0 Illegal Burn1 Other Emergency Calls 0 False Alarms0 Hazardous Conditions Street Situation Date Time SR85N/SR123.............................False call............................08/29/11............07:41 Everglade Drive...........................Medical...............................08/30/11............15:07 E. John Sims Parkway................Vehicle vs. pedestrian.......08/30/11............21:03 N. Partin Drive.............................Medical...............................08/31/11............07:49 27th Street...................................Medical...............................09/01/11............07:11 Juniper Avenue............................Medical...............................09/01/11............08:26 N. Partin Drive.............................Medical...............................09/01/11............13:34 Perdido Circle..............................Medical...............................09/01/11............17:52 Weekly Safety Tip: Store unused charcoal in a cool, dry place, because damp charcoal can ignite itself. Use a metal pail or garbage can with a tight lid and place it in an open space where heat can escape if self-ignition should occur.ValparaisoThe North Bay Fire Department responded to the following calls August 29, 2011, through September 2, 2011. Street Situation Date Time White Point Road........................Medical assist EMS.............08/29/11..........10:39 White Point Road........................Medical assist EMS.............08/29/11..........13:24 White Point Road........................EMS excluding vehicle........08/29/11..........14:55 Magnolia Plantation Boulevard..Dispatched, canceled..........08/30/11..........02:20 Parkwood Lane...........................No incident found.................08/30/11..........16:15 White Point Road........................EMS excluding vehicle........08/30/11..........21:28 Windsong Court..........................EMS excluding vehicle........08/30/11..........22:01 N. White Point Road...................Medical assist EMS.............08/31/11..........09:40 N. White Point Road...................EMS excluding vehicle........08/31/11..........13:29 E. Highway 20.............................Good intent call....................08/31/11..........15:50 E. Highway 20.............................EMS excluding vehicle........08/31/11..........16:32 E. Highway 20.............................EMS excluding vehicle........09/01/11..........12:36 Hickory Street..............................EMS excluding vehicle........09/01/11..........17:30 White Point Road........................EMS excluding vehicle........09/01/11..........17:43 Turnberry Place..........................Assist invalid.........................09/02/11..........00:44 E. Highway 20.............................Dispatched, canceled..........09/02/11..........00:47 Visit northbayfd.org for more information.North Bay Page A-6 Wednesday, September 7, 2011 THEBAYBEACON Mid-Bay Plaza, Bluewater Bay897-4466 Find us on Ritz SalonAvailable at: Biomega is the first haircare system that is able to suspend a functional dose of Omega-rich natural oils within a water-based system and infuse them into the hair to: REPLENISH hairs natural depleted oils, infusing vital moisture and brilliant shine REPAIR damage for maximum strength and elasticity RENEW the healthy look and feel of color-treated hair A BRILLIANT SOLUTION FOR EVERY HAIR TYPEDISCOVER THE BIOMEGA BREAKTHROUGH FOR HEALTHIER HAIR & LONGER LASTING COLORUltra-gentle formulations with NO sulfates, parabens, gluten or sodium chloride* Choose Baywalk, you deserve the best!4566 Hwy 20E, Ste. 104 Niceville www.baywalk2.comFIRST CLASS CUSTOM BUILT HOME Located in Rocky Bayou on Lake Henderson. Luxurious details throughout. Handicap Accessible. 4 Bedrooms-3 Baths. Perfect In-Law Suite with kitchenetteElevator. Call for a Feature Sheet of all the Extras. 4,519 Sq. Ft. $637,126. Grand Oaks! Unique Waterfront Community. Southern Style Cottage Home featuring: Dining Room, Family Room, Den/Ofce and spacious kitchen. Master Down with 2 up. Screened Porch 25k full-house generator. Deep Water Dock. Unique Award Winning Subdivision. 2570 Sq.Ft. $490,000. EXCEPTIONALLY WELL CARED FOR home located in Cedar Ridge subdivision. 2/2 Well Cared for Home with Many Updates. Bathroom totally renovated 2008. Roof Replaced 2007. A/C/Heating Replaced 2005. Freshly Painted, 2 Car Garage, Florida Room-A Must See! $159,000. Grand Oaks Subdivision. Best of the few Lots remaining in Size and Prize. Build a 3000 square foot home easily! Deep Waterfront Dock with 25 of your own across the Street. No Flood Insurance. Call for particulars Today. Priced to Sell!!! $177,000. Magnolia Plantation: a Gated Community. Pristine 3 bedroom, 2 bath all Brick Home with Heated and Cooled Florida Room. Tile in all wet areas and family room. Spacious kitchen with Breakfast area and large dining room. 2 car garage. New A/C. Home shows like NEW!!! 2055 Sq.Ft. $270,000-Seller pays $2500 of buyers closing cost with acceptable offer. GARDEN OAKS CONDO 2 Bedrooms, 2 Baths. A must See: $135,000. NEED SOMEONE TO WORK THROUGH YOUR SHORT SALES WITH YOU? CALL JANE RENTALS NEEDED! INVENTORY EXHAUSTED! CALL Jane Rainwater: (850) 897-1101 1-888-390-4450 Law Office of SAMUEL M. PEEK Estate Planning & Probate Wills & Living Trusts Powers of Attorney Health Care Directives Business Corporations & LLCSamuel M. Peek, J.D., LL.M. Tax678-1178222 Government Avenue Niceville, FL 32578The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision. Before you decide, ask us to send you free information about our qualifications and experience. Legal Services of North Florida, Inc. will be hosting a FREE Legal Clinic. Individuals and businesses affected by the oil spill will have the opportunity to discuss their claim with an attorney. Friday, 9/9/11: 9:30am-4:00pm Florida Great Northwest 4471 Legendary Dr. Suite 100, Destin, FL 32541 Walk-ins are welcome but attendees with appointments will be given first priority! To request an appointment, call (850) 862-3279Ext. 4009IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO FILE A CLAIM Legal Services of North Florida, Inc. provides civil legal assistance to low income individuals throughout 16 counties in Floridas Panhandle.FREE OIL SPILL CLAIMS LEGAL CONSULTATION 1181 E. John Sims Parkway, Niceville, Florida 32578 (850) 678-1080 Fax: 729-3225info@baybeacon.comThe Bay Beacon& Beacon ExpressThe Bay Beacon and Beacon Express, incorporating the Bluewater Breeze, is published every Wednesday by Bayou Enterprises Inc. Free total-market home delivery to Niceville, Valparaiso, Bluewater Bay and Seminole, as well as mid-Walton County from Villa Tasso to Basin Bayou, including Choctaw Beach. Subscriptions: One year, mail, $104. One year, electronic subscription, $52.Nicevilles Newspaper Please see BLOTTER, page A-7 Whos Protecting Your Castle?729 2131

Since 1992, the voice of Niceville, Bluewater Bay and Valparaiso. B B e e a a c c o o n n E E x x p p r r e e s s s s OUR TOWNP P a a g g e e B B 1 1 W W e e d d n n e e s s d d a a y y , S S e e p p t t e e m m b b e e r r 7 7 , 2 2 0 0 1 1 1 1 Your health is their lifes work. Whos NewsE-mail items to info@baybeacon.com.Ashley Teixeira Alonso won in the Mores (character) category of the Class of 2015 annual Vires, Artes, Mores essay contest for first-year students at Florida State University. Alonso is a 2011 graduate of Niceville High School. *** Debbie Lewis, Realtor with ERA American Realty of Northwest Florida Inc., Niceville, attended the Florida Realtors 95th annual Convention & Trade Expo Aug. 24-28 in Orlando. Each year, the Convention & Trade Expo brings Realtors from around the state together to discuss and vote on key issues that shape their profession and state association. In addition to committee meetings, members attend educational seminars on topics as varied as handling short sales, social media trends, personal branding and home pricing strategies. *** Cozy Drake of Niceville received her master's degree in clinical social work from Florida State University in August. Her future plans are to provide individual and group counseling to people struggling with issues such as anxiety, depression, trauma and relationship conflicts.The Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra, now in its 24th year, will open its 2011-12 season Sept. 10 with an evening of French music. The Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra will open its 2011-12 concert season Sept. 10 at 7:30 p.m. with a "French Connection" concert in the Mattie Kelly Arts Center at Northwest Florida State College, Niceville. The concert will feature pianist Ko-Eun Lee as a guest artist. The Gold Medal winner of the prestigious 2010 Wideman Piano competition, Lee will perform Saint Sans effervescent Piano Concerto No. 2. She has performed as a soloist with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, the Barcelona Symphony Orchestra, the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, among others, and has won numerous national and international music competitions. The all-French music program of the NFSOs Sept. 10 concert also includes the music of Berlioz and Georges Bizet. Composer Bizet is best known for his opera "Carmen," but his Symphony in C, which he wrote at 17, will make up the second half of the NFSO concert. The 2011-12 season of the Emerald Coast's premier professional orchestra will present an extraordinary five-concert season of guest artists, joint performances with the newly formed Northwest Florida Symphony Chorale, and a concert-version of what is considered the greatest comic opera ever written, Rossinis "The Barber of Seville." NFSO will again explore the rich world of opera with the seasons second concert on Oct. 29 with a concert-version performance of Rossinis "The Barber of Seville." Bringing this masterpiece to life will be three guest Ko-Eun Lee Please see SEASON, page B-2Sorority starts year with brunchThe Xi Beta Pi chapter of Beta Sigma Pi celebrated Beginning Day 2011-12 Aug. 28 with a Sunday brunch at Cantina Laredo, Destin. Those present included Brigita Krasauskas, Fran Chiquette, Leigh Anne Heubusch, Carol Heubusch, Cyndi Anderson, Adrianne Wilson, Dottie Kime, Cathy Hess, Janice Jean, Diane Ruvoio, Nikki Green and Marja Wilson. Debbie Lewis Your Total Service Center $1,000 REBATEOn Trane Qualifying Systems Call today for details. Offer valid August 16thOctober 31st897-5559www.holtphillips.comCMCO5715 UP TOAward-winning pianist to open symphony season

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Johnson-CarsonJames and Mary Johnson of Niceville announce the engagement of their daughter, Danielle Johnson, to 2nd Lieutenant Thomas Carson, son of Brad and Sherry Carson, of Piedmont, Calif. The bride-to-be is a 2006 graduate of Niceville High School and a 2010 graduate of the University of Central Florida with a bachelors degree in health science. She will receive a Master of Occupational Therapy degree from the University of Florida in December 2011. The groom-to-be is a 2009 graduate of the University of Florida with a bachelors degree in finance. He was commissioned in the U.S. Marine Corps in December 2009. He is stationed in Okinawa, Japan, with the 3D Marine Division. A December wedding is set to take place in Roswell, Ga. Hassell-FrettsScott and Sandy Hassell of Niceville, announce the engagement of their daughter, Allison Marie, to Calen Michael Fretts, son of Tom Fretts of Courtland, Va., and Jill Zimmerman of Seagrove Beach. Allison is a 2006 graduate of Niceville High School and a 2010 graduate of the University of Central Florida with a degree in political science. She is employed by eCop! Police Supply in Niceville. Calen is a 2003 graduate of Southampton Academy in Courtland and a 2008 graduate of Virginia Tech with a degree in computer science. He is the owner of Alpha Web Presence, a web development company based in Niceville. The couple will be married May 26, 2012, at the Eglin Air Force Base Bayview Club. Wilburn-AndersonMarcus and Beverly Wilburn of Freeport announce the upcoming marriage of their daughter, Rachel Lee, to Colby Lee Anderson of DeFuniak Springs. The bride-elect is a 2006 graduate of Freeport High School and is a student majoring in elementary education. The groom-elect is a 2000 graduate of Walton High School and is co-owner of Gulf Coast Insulation LLC. An October 2011 wedding is planned at Saint Rita Catholic Church in Santa Rosa Beach.Page B-2 Wednesday, September 7, 2011 THEBAYBEACON Since 1992, the voice of Niceville, Bluewater Bay and Valparaiso. CHURCHDIRECTORY MORE CIRCULATION ,000! This special section of the base newspapers will be distributed basewide and at dozens of newcomer pickup points countywide! Included will be Army 7th Special Forces Group members, base housing offices, base family centers, advertisers, chambers of commerce, the EDC, Realtors, hotels, and others! Deadline: Sept. 14 Publication: September 2011Eglin Flyer Hurlburt Patriot The Green Beret1181 E. John Sims Pkwy., Niceville, FL 32578 (850) 678-1080 Fax 729-3225 info@eglinflyer.comDON'T MISS THIS CHANCE to influence the buying of tens of thousands of people, including Army 7th Special Forces Group families new to our area! Reach Air Force & 7th Special Forces families moving to Florida! AD DEADLINE SEPT. 14 DONT BE LEFT OUT! CALL 678-1080 TO RESERVE YOUR SPACE TODAY! Welcome to Eglin Air Force Base & Hurlburt Field The Eglin Flyer, The Hurlburt Patriot and The Green Beret will publish their colorful semiannual "Welcome" issue for newcomers! Military members, civilians and their families will receive this comprehensive guide to the Okaloosa County community!FALL 2011 (850) 678-1080or info@eglinflyer.com REACH MEMBERS OF THE 7thSPECIAL FORCES GROUP! GROUP! FORCES SPECIAL 7thTHE MEMBERS REACH GROUP! SPECIAL OF MEMBERS REACH 1201 ALL F FA FOkaloosa the to families their and newcomers! for their publish will Flyer Eglin The co ommunity! y comprehensive County rece Okaloosa this eive r m civilians will families members, ry "W Militar s newcomers! semiannual ful and colorf urlbu their Patriot urt Hu The Flyer guide comprehensive civilians issue elcome" "W Beret Green The and AD MORE commerof chambers base members, be will Included pickup newcomer of distributed be will section special This 76 L L LL CA BE DONT CU TIO ULA AT CIRC E hotels, Realtors, EDC, the family th fice ce, ommer rc base es, of Gr ff of Sp housing base ces For pecial th countywide! 7t c Army be nts dozens poin wide pickup at and e basew ba newspapers distributed ase he R th T of section ES E R RE O T TO OUT! 0 0 FT 801-87 T LEF BE TIONothers!and hotels, advertisers, centers, oup Gr newspapers E ,000 V VE R RV (850) 14 SEPT T. DEADLIN SE ADor678-1080 (850) 14 NE UR Deadline: DON'Ta fpuorG i , elpoep eulfn iotS R U YO 76 CA SS S Publication: DON'T 14 Sept. Deadline: MIS e THIS r r u oo t w w e n h s s g eilima t 7 y y mr A g n t b idulcn f f ogniyu b e e O h tecn Y A AY D DA O R T 0 E C A AC P PA SRO 0 8087 CHANCE1201 September Publication: !aer a secro Flaicep Sh sdnasuoh t f f osne t V R RV info@eglinfly f oFlorida!to mofamilies Special 7th orFAir Reach .com er r. @eglinfly ye or Florida! vingmo ces or rc F &ce or n n h o J. E1811 wy L L F F l ,e l l l i i i vec i N N u, y y. w k Psmi S n n H r r eyl F n n ilgE 0 0 8 8 0 0 1 1 8 8 7 7 6 6 ) ) 0 0 5 5 8 8 ( ( 8 8 7 7 5 5 2 2 3 3 L L t t oirta P t t r rt ublru f f i n i l l @ ge @ f o f i n i 5 5 2 2 2 2 3 3 9 9 2 2 7 7 F xa F tere B n n eer Geh T l moc.rey l f fl f fl St. Paul Lutheran & Preschool 1407 E. John Sims Parkway 850-678-1298 W o r s h i p S c h e d u l e 8:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. SPARK 9:30 a.m. For more information visit www.stpaulniceville.com vocalists, mezzo-soprano Maria McDaniel, tenor Adam Kirkpatrick and baritone David Murray. Sung in Italian with English supertitles, this concert will undoubtedly prove to be one of the highlights of the season. Dec. 9 marks the debut of the new Northwest Florida Symphony Chorale as they join the orchestra for an evening of holiday favorites and carol sing-a-longs. The Feb. 17 concert is the annual Stars of Tomorrow event, sure to dazzle with guest artists from some of the finest young talent the area has to offer as well as the orchestras tribute to the Old West in a performance of Coplands "Billy the Kid." The NFSO season finale on April 28 will feature three giants of classical music, Franz Josef Haydn and his two most talented students, Mozart and Beethoven. NFSO season packages are on sale through Sept. 10 for $115. Individual NFSO tickets are $22.50 for adults or $16 for youths 18 and younger. An active duty military discount is available and NWFSC students may obtain one free ticket per student ID. "The Barber of Seville" is $32.50 for adults and $16 for youth. Purchase tickets online at mattiekellyartscenter.org or by phone or in person from the Box Office, 729-6000 or 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday. Doors open the night of the event at 6. Tickets purchased at the door are same price as advance tickets. See the symphony website for additional concert information and program notes at nfsymphony.org. SEASONFrom page B-1 EngagementsE-mail items to info@baybeacon.com. Danielle Johnson and Thomas Carson Allison Marie Hassell and Calen Michael Fretts Colby Lee Anderson and Rachel Lee Wilburn Bass Pro gives to ScoutsOn behalf of Destin Bass Pro Shop, Gary Feduccia presented a check to Billy Egan, field director of the Gulf Coast Council of the Boy Scouts of America. The more than $1,700 given was generated by donations to the BSA taken by Destin Bass Pro in June. Retired ladies bake cookies for troops Donate weekly to USO loungeSince the Northwest Florida USO Freedom Lounge opened in June 2010, the baking ladies at Bob Hope Village Retirement Community, Fort Walton Beach, have provided approximately 175 dozen cookies and assorted baked goods for the troops enjoyment. The Cookie Monsters, as they are known within the village, have been faithful with their weekly contributions. Diane Freeman, Freedom Lounge manager, far left, and Heidi Blair, director of Northwest Florida USO, far right, with volunteers Jim Rabourn, left, and Bob Davis, right, pick up the goodies each Friday morning. The bakers, from left, Mitsuko Mikki Boartfield, Dolores Phillips, Mary Szwerluga, Nell Quinnelly, Jo Coats, Pastora Pieroni, Sandra Lundeen, Hazel Reynolds, Jean Lainhart, Margaret Wesolowski, Elizabeth Reeser and Marie Balla. IMMANUELANGLICANCHURCHSunday Morning Services Family Worship 9:00with children's classesWalk-In...Worship 11:01with childcare for ages 6 weeks to KindergartenWeekly Small Groups in Niceville, Destin, & F.W.B.Call 837-6324 for the one nearest you.Weekly newcomers class starts Wed., Sept. 21, 6 p.m., covering essentials of Anglicanism. All welcome. Call 837-6324 to sign up.250 Indian Bayou Trail, Destin Church Office: 850-837-6324www.iacdestin.orgPointing The Way To Jesus First Baptist Church ofValparaisoENGA GINGGOD,CONNECTINGWITHOTHER S,SE R VING A LL444 Valparaiso Pkwy. 850-678-4822 www.fbcvalparaiso.orgSundays Bible Study 9:30am Celebration Service 11:00am Discipleship 5:00pm Wednesdays Adults, Youth, & Children 6:00pm

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Tea and book discussion The Friends of the Niceville Library will hold a tea and book discussion with author Nancy M. Kenaston at the Niceville Community Center, 204 Partin Drive, Sept. 7 at 10:30 a.m. Kenaston worked at the Daily News, serving as editor during its transition from a weekly to a daily newspaper. She was also legislative aide to State Rep. Jerry Melvin for four years. She is the author of several history books, including From Cabin to Campus, a story of the Okaloosa School System. This program is free. To reserve a seat call Niceville Library at 729-4090. Ladies golf season Bluewater Bays Nine-Hole Ladies Golf League 2011-2012 season will begin Sept. 7. The ladies will play nine holes, followed by lunch at the Bluewater Bay Clubhouse each Wednesday through May 30, 2012. Info: Diane Chiquette, diane1157@aol.com or 897-4498. Quickbooks class Quickbooks Basic will be offered Sept. 8, 9 a.m.-noon, in Room 126 at the NWF/UWF Campus, 1120 Martin Luther King Blvd., Fort Walton Beach. See how QuickBooks financial software can help you take control of your business finances. Find out which QuickBooks product is right for you before you buy. See an overview of how QuickBooks simplifies tasks such as payroll, sales tax, job estimating, and job costing. The fee is $50 Register and pay by credit card online at sbdc.uwf.edu to reserve a seat. Cheer with RMS All girls from K-4 through fifth grade are invited to cheer at an RMS football game Sept. 8 at 5:30 p.m. All girls interested should meet at the ticket gate between Niceville High and Ruckel. Wear comfortable clothing (black, white or gold is preferred) and tennis shoes. The cost is $25 and participants will receive a snack and a spirit item with registration. Info: rmscheer@ymail.com. DAR meeting The Choctawhatchee Bay Chapter National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution will meet Sept. 8 at St. Simons on the Sound Church at 10 a.m. Felicia Ritz, Constitution Week chairman, will present a program on the Constitution. All women lineally descended from a Revolutionary War patriot may attend meetings and apply for membership. Seniors club event Twin Cities Seniors Club will have a potluck and bingo event Sept. 8, 2 p.m. All 50 and older are welcome. Bringing a covered dish to share would be appreciated. Info: 678-8645 or 678-4346. Aglow womens fellowship Womens fellowship Fort Walton Beach Aglow, will hold its meeting with speaker Joni Ames Sept. 8, at Marina Bay Resort, 80 Miracle Strip Parkway, Fort Walton Beach. Coffee and fellowship at 9:30 a.m. and the meeting will begin at 10. The group will also have a meeting at 7 p.m., same location. Info: Barbara Williams, fwbaglow@yahoo.com or 678-1335. Garden Club meeting The Bluewater Bay Garden Club will hold its first meeting of the season Sept. 8, 9 a.m., at the Bluewater Bay Clubhouse on Bluewater Bay Boulevard. The meeting will begin at 9:30. Jennifer Lee will present Cooking with Herbs, and discuss and demonstrate the merits of fresh versus dried herbs, and offer several unusual ways to use herbs in food preparation and have some recipes that feature herbs in a substantial way. This interactive program will include some tasting. Guests and new members are welcome. Info: Jan Luckett, 897-6700. Moms morning prayer For mothers of high school and college age students, Moms in Touch, an organization which gathers mothers to pray, will resume prayer for the 2011-12 school year Thursday mornings beginning Sept. 8 at 7:30 a.m. at the Niceville United Methodist Church. Contact Pia Elsesser, 7290872 or elsesser@cox.net, for more information. For more information about Moms in Touch International visit momsin touch.org. Bird walk in Wright Don Ware will lead a bird walk Sept. 10 at the landfill and spray fields in Wright. This site is one of the most prolific birding spots in the area for fall migrants and shore birds, and is the best place to see many different species. Meet at the Coach and Four Restaurant on Lewis Turner Blvd., Fort Walton Beach, at 8:30 a.m. Bring a hat, water, sunscreen, insect repellent and binoculars. Info: Don, 862-6582. Women and Cars Workshop Shelter House, a local domestic violence center, will present a Women and Cars Workshop Sept. 10 from 10 a.m.-noon at the Shelter House Administration Office, 102 Buck Drive, Fort Walton Beach. Learn from a local, experienced mechanic how to check fluids, change a tire, check tire pressure and how to change your oil. Find out how to talk to your mechanic, which questions to ask and what really needs to be done to your car. This workshop is free and open to all women. To register, call Shelter House at 243-1201, visit shelterhousenwfl.org or email info@shelterhousenwfl.org. Christian concert set The We Are the Beggars Christian concert tour will come to Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church, 1200 Valparaiso Blvd., in the Parish Life Center, Sept. 10. Doors will open at 7 p.m. The concert will also include Ike Ndolo Band, Audrey Assad and Ennie Hickman. General admission tickets are $10, and VIP youth event tickets are $15. For tickets: call 6787813, email holyname@holy namechurch.org or visit HolyName.tix.com. Floral design classes The Florida Federation of Garden Clubs will offer Floral Design Studies this fall. The program will teach the basics of floral design. Classes are scheduled for 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Sept. 10, and the first Saturday in Oct., Nov., Jan., Feb. and March. Cost is $75. Obtain a registration form from the Valparaiso Community Library, call 678-2842 or email marieharrison@valp.net to have one sent to you. Genealogical Society trip The September meeting of the Genealogical Society of Okaloosa County will be a field trip to the University of West Florida Library Archives and History Center located on the main campus in Pensacola. The meeting is scheduled for Sept. 10 at 10 a.m. Visitors are welcome. Meet at the Palm Plaza parking lot on John Sims Parkway, Niceville, at 8:30 a.m. to carpool. Info: 678-2023. Watercolor on Yupo class Explore the unusual effects achieved using Yupo for watercolors Sept. 10, 9:30 a.m.-noon at the Arts and Design Society, 17 First St. SE, Fort Walton Beach. Cost is $30 for ADSO members, $35 for nonmembers, plus a $5 supply fee. Info: artsdesignsociety.org or 244-1271. Literacy month event Celebrate literacy month at the Niceville Library, 206 N. Partin Drive, for the reading of The Magic School Bus Gets Crabby, Sept. 10, 12:301:30 p.m. Touch tanks with land and marine crabs will be available for the children to observe. Information about Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park will also be presented. The program is free to the public. Grant writing course The Niceville Public Library will host an Introduction to Grant Writing, presented by Dr. Anne Holt Sept. 10 the library, 206 Partin Drive N., 9 a.m.noon. The program will cover: grant writing guidelines, model narrative budget, Florida funders list, writing dos and donts, and tips on finding matching funds. The cost is $30, payable at the door. Registration is required since space is limited. Register at the Niceville Library Reference Desk, call the library, 2794868, ext. 1504, or contact Holt, 850977-5110 or ahholt@ahholt.com. Book signing, discussion Bayou Book Company welcomes Auburn Research Associate Mark Hainds to sign copies of and discuss his new book, Year of the Pig, Saturday, Sept. 10, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. The book chronicles his study of wild pigs in 11 states. Info: Bayou Books, 678-1593 or bayoubookcompany.com. 5K Fun Run The second annual Hollyday 5K Fun Run will be held Sept. 10 at 7:30 a.m. The run will start and end at Village Baptist Church, 101 Matthew Blvd., Destin. Register early at active.com for $25. Registration on the day of the race will be $30. Proceeds will benefit Shred Out Cancer, a nonprofit organization in memory of Holly Burke. Door prizes will be raffled, and advanced tickets will enter participants into a YOLO board drawing. Info: Cathy, 582-0806. September hikes The Florida Trail Association announces the following events to be held in September: Sept. 10, 6 a.m. Trail maintenance on Eglin near Crestview. Eglin permit required. Info: 850-492-8258; Sept. 11, 8:30 a.m. Hike in Blackwater River State Forest. Info: 850-4840528. For more information, visit choctaw.floridatrail.org. Sept. blood drives The following blood drives will be held in the Niceville-Valparaiso area in September: Sunday, Sept. 11Northwest Florida Regional Airport a.m.-2 p.m.; Monday, Sept. 19Twin Cities Hospital9 a.m.-1 p.m.; Monday, Sept. 26 and 27Northwest Florida State College, Niceville a.m.-3 p.m. Wine & cheese fundraiser The Magnolia Grill Restaurant, 157 Brooks Street SE, Fort Walton Beach, will host a wine and cheese fundraiser to benefit the Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida Sept. 11, 2-4 p.m. Bring your family and friends and enjoy an afternoon at the Magnolia Grill to help Save History! Enjoy wine and food, live entertainment, and participate in a silent auction. Tickets are $25; $20 for museum members; police, firefighters and paramedics tickets are $10. To purchase tickets call 678-2615. Girls softball tryouts Nicevilles High Intensity 10U girls softball will hold try-outs Sept. 11, 2-5 p.m., at the Niceville Softball Complex. Info: Carrie Summerlin, 240-2221. Braille transcription course Northwest Florida Visionnaires Inc., a nonprofit charitable volunteer organization which serves the visually handicapped, will offer a free Braille transcription course to teach the skills to transcribe textbooks into Braille for blind children. The course will be held Mondays from Sept. 12 through April 2012, from 10 a.m.-noon., at the Niceville United Methodist Church Community Life Center, 214 S. Partin Drive. No previous experience with Braille or the blind is necessary. Info: Bettie Downing, 897-3383. VFW Post meeting The regular monthly meeting of the Niceville-Valparaiso Kent Purcell VFW Post 10090 will be held Sept. 12 at the DAV Hall, 920 Hospital Drive, Niceville, at 7 p.m. Info: post10090@flvfw.org. Members and potential new members are welcome. Square Dance Lessons The Agape Squares will offer square dance lessons beginning Sept. 12 from 6-7:15 p.m. at the Niceville United Methodist Church, in the Community Life Center. The first three lessons are free, after, lessons are $3 a person. Info: 678-4515. Assisted living meeting All are invited to the next Florida Assisted Living Association meeting Sept. 13, 10 a.m., at Sterling House Bluewater Bay. The guest speaker will be Mike Phillips from the Ombudsman Program. He will be speaking on the changes in the Ombudsman program and the difference in Ombudsman and AHCA. The cost is $5 for members and $7 for nonmembers. Professional training The American Society for Training & Development September program will be Moving From Evidence To Proof: Are You There? presented by Julie Ray, Ed.D. and Kandi Gardiner of HumanResource Solutions Inc., Destin. The program will be held Sept. 13, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., at Northwest Florida State College,Niceville, Building K. The cost is $17 for nonmembers, $12 for chapter members. To RSVP, email Tracey Tapp at astd.ec.hospitality@gmail.com or visit astdemeraldcoast.member lodge.org. After school program Catch the Magic School Bus each month in Youth Services at the Niceville Library. Children ages 6-12 years old meet the second Tuesday of each month from 4:15-5:30 p.m. in the program room. Every month the program will focus on a different Magic School Bus book and will include fun facts, hands-on activities, cool science and, of course, a Ms. Frizzle mystery or two. Registration is required. Visit Youth Services to register. The first meeting will be Sept. 13 when the Magic School Bus goes Inside Ralphie. Info: 2794863, ext. 1514. Chamber breakfast The Niceville Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce will hold its second Wednesday breakfast Sept. 14 at the Niceville Community Center,Wednesday, September 7, 2011 Page B-3 THEBAYBEACON Since 1992, the voice of Niceville, Bluewater Bay and Valparaiso. Advertisers!Don t miss these special color ad pages from Beacon Newspapers! Don t miss these special color ad pages from Beacon Newspapers!Save Gas Shop Locally Deadline: Sept. 15 With fuel prices high, shoppers want to get the most bang for their buck by shopping close to home! Saving gas is good for the environment and the pocketbook! Capture your share of hometown spending with your ad in Beacon Newspapers special color advertising pages: S a v e G a s S h o p L o c a l l y Dont miss this great selling opportunity! Deadline: Thursday, Sept. 15, 2011 Publication: Sept. 21 in The Bay Beacon, Sept. 23 in The Eglin Flyer and The Hurlburt Patriot. Sept. 30 in the Green Beret.Prices: Just $1455 per column inch in The Bay Beacon, 7 min. Includes free color for your ad, plus page banner! Add BOTH Air Force papers for only $999 per col. inch total! Add Army paper at $399 an inch!Beacon Newspapers The Bay Beacon The Hurlburt Patriot The Eglin Flyer The Green BeretSave Gas Shop LocallySave Gas Shop Locally FREE COLOR! FREE COLOR! CALENDAR2011 E-mail items to info@baybeacon.com before 5 p.m. Wednesday. Please see CALENDAR, page B-6 Genealogists to see UWF archivesThe Genealogical Society of Okaloosa County will take a trip to the University of West Florida Library Archives and History Center in Pensacola Sept. 10. Meet at Palm Plaza, Niceville, at 8:30 a.m., to carpool. Visitors welcome. Info: 678-2023. Advertising in the Bay Beacon gets results! Heres proof!Dear Bay Beacon, Hidden Creek Stables wishes to thank you for your recent help with our ad. Not only did you make it appealing, but you also made the process easy for us. As with many a new business, our budget is low and you assisted us to find an ad that suited us at this time. Each week we received some calls from the ad. This tells us that people saw it and as such it proves that our money was well spent. Hidden Creek stables will use the Bay Beacon again for their advertising needs. Sincerely Yours, Joanna Tousignant & Candace Tousignant, 428-0209 Pet Pals Pet Sitters ~ Hidden Creek Stables, Managers

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Since 1992, the voice of Niceville, Bluewater Bay and Valparaiso. Page B-4 Wednesday, September 7, 2011 B E A C O N S P O R T S B E A C O N S P O R T S www.shalimarautoexchange.com www.shalimarautoexchange.com1200 N. Eglin Pkwy | Shalimar | 651-5450 1200 N. Eglin Pkwy | Shalimar | 651-5450 0DOWN!RATES AS LOW AS3.69% $249per mo. *2010 PONTIAC G6 40k Miles 4 Cyl Automatic All Power With Coupon Only. Expires 9/13/11 With Coupon Only. Expires 9/13/11With Coupon Only. Expires 9/13/11$1995$1695 Change Motor Oil (up to 5 Qts.) 10W30 New Oil Filter Most Vehicles FULL SERVICE OIL CHANGENOW SERVICING DIESELS$500OFF(up to 5 Qts.) 10W30 Most vehiclesOIL CHANGETRANSMISSION SERVICE$10OFF$10OFF14-Point Service Check One coupon per customer. With coupon only. Cannot be combined with other offers. Expires 9/13/11 A/C Service Timing Belts Dealer Scheduled MaintenanceOTHER SERVICESCOOLING SYSTEM SERVICE$3490Drain & Refill Radiator with up to 1 Gallon of Antifreeze. Pressure test Cooling System, Inspect Water Pump, Hoses & Belts. With Coupon Only. Expires 9/13/11 410 John Sims Parkway678-1789Mon. Fri. 8:00-5:30 p.m. Sat. 8:00-12:30 p.m.(Located Directly Behind Papa Johns) More Than Just Oil Changes!A u t o R e p a i r $5990BRAKE SPECIAL With Coupon Only. Expires 9/13/11With Coupon Only. Expires 9/13/11 As Low AsPer AxleMost Vehicles FREE Brake InspectionTUNE UP Eagle defense leads NHS to first home grid winInexperienced offense shows promise Beacon photos by Sarah Clauson Niceville's defense stood tall and the offense scored enough to defeat East Gadsden, 24-13, in the Eagles' first home game of the season Friday. Above, Eagles Alex Alford (21), Malik Williams (27) and Trey Barnes (11) throw an East Gadsden ball carrier for a loss. By Sarah ClausonBeacon Correspondent The Niceville Eagles kicked off their season with a 24-13 victory over East Gadsden last Friday night. The season opener brought out droves of fans eager to offer support, and to get a glimpse of this years team. With a solid defensive lineup, filled with many returning starters, all eyes were on the relatively inexperienced offense. Led by junior quarterback (and kicker) Andrew Mitchell, the offense scored 17 in the first half, while the defense kept the Jaguars at zero. Mitchell put the first three on the board with a field goal late in the quarter. The momentum continued into the second quarter when Mitchell connected to Terrell Nichols for a 36-yard gain. A touchdown was soon to follow by running back Denzel Applewhite. Their very next drive also led to a score as Mitchell connected with Tyree McCants, who ran the ball into the end zone to bring the score to 17-0. Momentum slowed in the third quarter. The Eagles had some big plays, but werent able to score on them. Early in the quarter they were forced to punt, but came up with possession of the football. A fumble at first and goal gave the Jaguars possession, but an interception by Demetrius Davis put the ball back in Eagle hands. The back and forth continued until the Jaguars scored two touchdowns within a minute, to narrow the gap to 17-13 With their lead dwindling, the Eagles fought back and after a four-minute drive added the final seven points to the score. From the three-yard line, Jon Hudson powered over the pile of defenders into the end zone early in the fourth quarter. The Eagles showed promise on both sides of the ball, even if they did encounter a few hiccups and missed opportunities. Head coach John Hicks referenced some early season inconsistency along with some strength. "At times we did well, at times just so-so," said Hicks. As for the inexperienced offense? "A lot of guys contributed, a lot of different people stepped up," he said. The Eagles hit the road this week against Pace. Their next home game will be Sept. 23 against Navarre, the first district game of the season. Beacon photo by Sarah ClausonRuckel outscores LewisRuckel's Baythn Hicks carries the ball against Lewis Thursday evening as the Rams topped the Falcons, 22-6. Lewis runners place in meetOn Saturday, Aug. 20, several members of the Lewis cross country team participated in the Josh Sprinkle 5K Run at the Landing in Fort Walton Beach, with five of the runners placing in their age groups. Lewis tied with Niceville High School for having the most participants representing their school, earning the team a $200 donation. From left: back row, Justin Haymond, Cameron Gilbert, Hannah MacDonald, Nathan Bohler, DAngelo Swafford, Mitch Morken (first in age group), David Rivera (second in age group), Zachary Fralish, Kjersten Bartee and Jason Nodjomian (third in age group); front, Gabe Bohler (first in age group), Zach Hartzog, MacKenzie Reid (second in age group), Maddy Jansen, Jacob Hohman (third in age group), Kaelynn Bartee and Jayda Brooks. Lewis cheerleaders win awardsLewis School cheerleaders attended National Cheerleaders Association summer camp, winning four superior awards for cheers and chants, the S.P.O.T. award for stunting, the Technical Excellence award, a Special NCA Invitation award and a NCA National Championship Bid. Everyone on the squad was nominated for All-American and three were chosen: Ali Hlatky, Korey Morelli and Hannah MacDonald. From left: rear, Ali Hlatky (captain), Cameron Gilbert, Korey Morelli, NCA cheerleader Erica Bruggeman, Katelin Koenigkramer (captain) and Kelsey Howell; front, Mekenzie Reid, Rylee Thompson and Hannah MacDonald. Young golfers excelTwo young Niceville golfers, Andrew Smith and Kayla Bloor, were among those who won Summer Tour divisional titles and AJGA exemptions in the second annual Edwin Watts Summer Tour Championships at Marcus Pointe, Aug. 20-21. After Day One six players were within two strokes of each other to determine the winner of the Boys Overall 1418 title and the crystal Edwin Watts Trophy. After Sundays front nine, Smith was separated from three other golfers by just one stroke. At the end, he finished third, just two strokes behind the winner. On the girls side, Bloor was separated by just one stroke from the eventual champion after the first day, but she finished second by two shots, with Nicevilles Antonia Poate another two shots back in third. In the Boys 14-15 division, Smith finished second by one stroke for the champions Silver Plate. According to the organizers, Smith is one of the most improved players of 2011. The Boys and Girls 10-11 division provided the customary fireworks with Nicevilles Lauren Miller finishing third in a scorecard playoff with the second-place winner. In the Boys and Girls 7-9 division, Destins Madison Tenore continued her undefeated summer season with two solid rounds of 42, 40.Softball tryouts SundayNicevilles High Intensity 10U girls softball will be holding try-outs on Sunday, Sept. 11, from 2-5 p.m. at the Niceville Softball Complex. For questions, call Carrie Summerlin at 240-2221.Relay for Life run plannedThe sixth annual TwinCities Relay for Life 5K/Mile Fun Run will be held Sept. 17 at 8 a.m. at Lewis Middle School, Valparaiso. Early registration for the 5K is $15 and for the Fun Run, $5. The student price is $5 for either race. NWFTC members receive a $2 discount. Special rate for groups of 10 or more. Late fee, add $5 the day of the race. Tshirts for the first 250 entries. Register online at active.com or e-mail samacd@valp.net with any questions. Wednesday, Sept. 7 Destin-Pryor, Jackson, cross country, 4 Ruckel@Shoal River, cross country, 4 Lewis-Davidson, cross country, 4 Destin-St. Mary, volleyball, 4 Lewis-Meigs, volleyball, 4 Ruckel@Davidson, volleyball, 4Thursday, Sept. 8 Destin-Davidson, football, 6:30 Ruckel-Pryor, football, 6:30 RBCS@Walton High, volleyball, 5/6 NHS@Gulf Breeze, volleyball, 6/7 NHS@FWB municipal golf course, girls golf, 3 NHS short pentathlon, swimming, Parkwood, 3Friday, Sept. 9 NHS@Pace, football, 7 RBCS-Baker, football, 7 NHS@Buchholz, volleyball, 3 Saturday, Sept. 10 NHS@Pace Invitational, cross country. 7 a.m. RBCS-Maclay, volleyball, 1 NHS-Choctaw, swimming, Frank Brown Park, PCB, 9 a.m.Sunday, Sept. 11 Okaloosa mens baseball, 1 and 4:30, Twin OaksMonday, Sept. 12 Lewis-Bruner, volleyball, 4 Ruckel-St. Mary, volleyball, 4Tuesday, Sept. 13 RBCS@Pensacola Christian, volleyball, 5/6 NHS@Choctaw, volleyball, 5/6 NHS-FWB girls golf (Eglin course), 3 ScheduleE-mail items to info@baybeacon.com. Sports BriefsE-mail items to info@baybeacon.com.

Since 1992, the voice of Niceville, Bluewater Bay and Valparaiso.ALL AROUND THE TOWN ALL AROUND THE TOWN Nestled in the longleaf pines and shady oaks of Boggy Bayou, the Boathouse Landing in Valparaiso reflects the beauty and relaxed lifestyle of Northwest Florida. Family owned and operated by Nick and Lisa Sarra since 2001, the Boathouse Landing is the ideal choice whether youre looking for a casual meal with your family or for dinner before a show. The Bilge Pub offers two ways to unwind after a day of work or play, with a comfortable lounge inside, and a covered outside patio and oyster bar. Oysters on the half shell are now available in the lounge. Enjoy a half dozen with your favorite happy hour drink while playing NTN trivia. The Bilge Pub offers happy hour Monday to Saturday, from 3 to 6 p.m., with different drink specials on tap each day. The Pub offers a shrimp boil every Sunday. On Friday and Saturday nights, and Sunday afternoons, live music on the patio and outside dining deck is an eclectic mix of island, country and soft rock that adds to the dining experience at the Boathouse Landing. You may even catch a glimpse of dolphins swimming through the waters of Boggy Bayou. The Boathouse Landing is open for both lunch and dinner all week. Theres an extensive menu with something for every diner. Its not just seafood, says Lisa. Favorites include ribeye steak, the Boathouse Grouper and the Oysters Rockefeller appetizer. We have four Early Bird Specials we run from 4:30 to 6 p.m., seven days a week, except holidays, says Lisa. These delicious specials include PecanCrusted Fish with Garlic Beurre Blanc, Jumbo Fried Shrimp, Beef Tenderloin Tips with Marsala Mushroom Sauce and PanSauteed Chicken Breast topped with Crab Meat, Asparagus and Hollandaise. Being so close to Eglin makes the Boathouse Landing a great choice for people on base. Besides offering an excellent location for retirement lunches and going-away celebrations, the Landing provides a menu of fast, delicious lunch options. One popular lunch hour choice is the Coconut Chicken Salad, big enough to make a meal in itself. At Boathouse Landing you dont have to wait forever for a seat or for your meal. Fast, efficient service is the norm. The Boathouse Landings banquet facilities can be reserved to accommodate intimate parties of 15 or 16 people all the way up to large events of 75 or more. It would be hard to find a more lovely location to host a family celebration or reception than this restaurant, steeped in old Florida charm. The Boathouse Landing also rents boat slips on a nightly and monthly basis. Many slips are also available for diners who choose to come in by water for a meal. The Boathouse Landing is located at 124 John Sims Parkway in Valparaiso. Call the restaurant at 678-2805 or visit their website at www.the boathouselanding.com or on Facebook.Advertising Feature Page B-6 Wednesday, September 7, 2011 THEBAYBEACON The Boathouse LandingRelaxed waterfront dining, lounge and oyster barNick and Lisa Sarra welcome you to dine with them at the Boathouse Landing, overlooking the shore of the Boggy Bayou, as they have for the last ten years. Oysters on the half shell are available at our waterside oyster bar. Full Service Marina Covered Slips Open Wet Slips Deep Water Facility Sailboat Rentals Service Yard Covered/Open Dry Storage 100 Old Ferry Road, Shalimar 651-051010% OFFFOR ACTIVE MILITARY 10% OFFFOR ACTIVE MILITARY Environmentally Friendly Guaranteed for 25 years Endless color options Looks like deep rich paint Financing Available Residential & Commercial NEVER PAINT A G A I N $575 OFFCLIP THIS COUPON FOR12 Months Same as CashCALL TODAY FOR A FREE EVALUATION (850) 424-6829 CALL TODAY FOR A FREE EVALUATION (850) 424-6829www.RhinoShieldGulfSouth.com www.RhinoShieldGulfSouth.com 1005-A John Sims Pkwy. (Palm Plaza) Niceville, FL 850-279-4361Mon.-Tues., Thurs.-Fri. 8:30 a.m. 5:15 p.m.Closed for lunch 12:30-1:30pmWednesdays 11:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m.Sharon M. Streeter, O.D. Thomas A. Streeter, O.D.Palm Eye CareBoard Certified Optometric PhysiciansA new approach to personal eye careContact Lenses and Eyeglasses Emergency Eye Injuries Diabetes/Hypertension Management Specialty/Bifocal Contact Lenses Pediatric patients are always welcome Sports Vision Correction for all athletes Accepting TRICARE, Bluecross/BS, Medicare, Medicaid, AETNA, VCP, VSP, Davis Vision and Eye MedDr.s Tom & Sharon Streeter We guarantee to show up on time or Fix It FREE!389-4611onehourair.com NO extra charge fornights &weekends! Closed SundaysFor Reservations Call: 678-2604 714 Howell Rd. ~ Niceville, FL. 32578 C a j u n C u i s i n e Best kept secret in Nicevillew w w f q g n i c e v i l l e c o m D i n n e r : T u e s S a t 5 p.m. 9 p.m. L u n c h : M o n F r i 11 a.m. 2 p.m. 204 N. Partin Drive. The breakfast will begin at 7:15 a.m. with coffee and conversation, followed by breakfast at 7:30. This months sponsor is The Manor at Bluewater Bay. Chamber members, their guests, and prospective members are invited to attend. Concerto competition The Northwest Florida Symphony Guild, in conjunction with the Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra and Northwest Florida State College, announce the 25th annual Concerto Competition, open to students of orchestral instruments, piano and voice who are 23 years of age or younger. Youth who enter compete for prize money and the opportunity to perform with the NFSO in a live Stars of Tomorrow concert. For registration information, visit nfsymphony.org. Performers must submit a videotaped performance of their selection by Sept. 15. Info: Lois Van Dam, vandaml@nwfsc.edu or 729-6009. Free budget seminar Carr, Riggs & Ingram will present a free brown bag luncheon, How to Budget, Sept. 15 at the Fort Walton Beach Small Business Development Center, 922 Mar Walt Dr., Suite 203, from noon-1 p.m. To reserve your seat, register online at sbdc.uwf.edu. Art exhibits to openThe works of George Rodrigue and Karl Zerbe will be featured in the Mattie Kelly Arts Center galleries, Niceville, Sept. 10Oct. 14. Rodrigue's "Blue Dog" has become an icon of Louisiana and rebuilding post-Katrina New Orleans. CALENDARFrom page B-3 Twin Cities Transmission and General RepairZen Masters, Guard Dogs, & Welcoming Committee P P E E P P P P E E R R T T O O N N Y Y (850)729-6629Brakes Water Pumps Timing Belts Struts/ShocksSniffing Out Car Problems Since 2000In Tune with the FumesPeppers Assistant Crowns & Bridges Fillings & Partials Dentures Root Canals Extractions Implants EmergenciesNOW OFFERING - Botox Juvederm Invisalign Conscious Sedation897-4488 www.drbroutin.com Merchants Walk Ste 101 Niceville Olivier Broutin, D.M.D. Accepting New Patients*Minimum fee only for ADA code D9972OFFER EXPIRES 09/30/11 TEETH WHITENING$ 1 9 9 143 S. John Sims Pkwy. Valparaiso ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS729-3300 CARING FOR FAMILIES NEWBORN TO ADULTEMERALD COAST FAMILY MEDICINEWEIGHT LOSS MANAGEMENTMOST INSURANCES ACCEPTED INTERNAL MEDICINE PEDIATRICS PREVENTIVE CARE SPORT & WORK PHYSICALSDr. T. Castaneda, M.D.Board Certified Family Physician BEEF TENDERLOIN TIPS with a Marsala Mushroom Sauce PAN SAUTEED CHICKEN BREAST Topped with Crabmeat, Asparagus and Hollandaise Sauce JUMBO FRIED SHRIMP PECAN CRUSTED CATCH OF THE DAYEarly Bird Specials $9.954:30 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 7 Days a Week 124 John Sims Parkway, Valparaiso (Just past Angels Are Us) 678-2805www.TheBoatHouseLanding.comHOURS: 10:45 a.m. 9:00 p.m. Sun.-Thurs. 10:45 a.m. 9:30 Fri. 11:30 a.m. 9:30 Sat. C a s u a l W a t e r f r o n t D i n i n g f e a t u r i n g S e a f o o d S t e a k & P a s t a SERVING LUNCH AND DINNER C a l l u s f o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n 2300 N. Partin Drive, NicevilleSuperioralf.com (850) 897-2244October 15Superior Residences DONT MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY!For only $99.95 a week for 11 weeks, you can capitalize on a powerful promotional tool.ADD ONE OR BOTH OF OUR MILITARY PAPERS AT HALF PRICE! A A L L L L A A R R O O U U N N D D T T H H E E T T O O W W N N The Beacons ALL AROUND THE TOWN is one of the best read advertising sections available. It combines the strength of a well-written business profile, a color photo, and 11 colorful well-designed ads.Each week customers will tell you all about it. Call 678-1080 today!